PESHAWAR: Four people, including a policeman and a paramilitary soldier, were killed in suspected militant attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern and southwestern regions on Friday, officials said, while at least two others perished in shooting at a protest rally in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province against the worsening security environment.
KP, which borders Afghanistan, has seen a surge in attacks on security forces, government officials and anti-polio vaccination teams in recent weeks. Attacks have also spiked in the southwestern Balochistan province, home to a decades-long insurgency by separatist fighters.
The shocking surge in daily attacks has unleashed protests in KP’s Bannu and Tank districts, with citizens demanding authorities ensure peace in the two districts that have been worst-hit by the militancy surge. In Bannu in particular, ten soldiers were killed earlier this week when militants attacked a military cantonment.
In a fresh attack on Friday, two people were killed and four others wounded when a bomb targeted a militant commander, Ain Ullah, associated with Mullah Nazeer group, a Pakistan Taliban (TTP) faction, in the South Waziristan tribal district, according to police.
“A bomb exploded near Maulvi Noor Muhammad mosque this morning, leaving two persons dead and four injured,” Fareed Wazir, a police officer in the town of Wana, told Arab News. “It was a planted bomb. Police are investigating the matter to identify the perpetrators.”
Separately, a policeman was killed and two others injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a police check-post in the Bhai area of KP’s Mardan district, rescue officials said.
Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen opened fire at a protest rally in Bannu, killing at least two protesters and injuring another two dozen, according to provincial officials.
“At least two persons died and 24 were wounded when all of a sudden firing started during a peace rally by hundreds and thousands of people in Bannu,” KP Public Health Engineering Minister Pakhtoon Yar Khan told Arab News, saying he had “narrowly escaped” the gunfire.
Khan said the recent unrest in Bannu had disrupted businesses, educational institutions and public life, and residents wanted peace “at any cost.”
Arab News tried reaching out to the Bannu district police officer, Ziauddin Ahmad, to get more details of the incident, but he did not return phone calls.
Later, commenting on the development the provincial administration’s spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said in a video statement people had the right to hold peaceful protests, though no one would be allowed to take law into their hands.
He said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had taken notice of the situation in Bannu and asked the commissioner and deputy commissioner of the region to hold negotiations with protesters.
“After negotiations with the elders, the situation is under control,” the KP spokesperson said. “The chief minister has also announced a package for those killed and injured in the incident.”
He added the incident would be investigated and those responsible for the violence would be punished.
In Tank, hundreds of people continued a two-day long sit-in over the fragile security situation in the district.
Pattu Bhittani, one of the organizers of the protest, told Arab News the residents were “fed up” of frequent militant attacks and living in a state of insecurity.
“Till the acceptance of our demands, which is restoration of peace, the entire district will boycott the polio campaign and hoist black flags on their vehicles and homes as a token of protest,” Bhittani said, warning that the protesters would also block highways if their demands were not met.
Islamabad blames the recent surge in attacks, including the July 15 attack on the army cantonment in Bannu, on militants mainly from the TTP operating out of neighboring Afghanistan. Kabul denies the allegations and says rising violence in Pakistan is a domestic issue for Islamabad.
Pakistani forces were able to effectively dismantle the TTP in a string of military operations in KP’s tribal districts from 2014 onwards, driving most of the fighters into neighboring Afghanistan, where Islamabad says they have regrouped.
Islamabad says TTP leaders have taken refuge in Afghanistan and now run camps there to train insurgents to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban rulers say Kabul does not allow militants to operate on its territory.
BALOCHISTAN
In Balochistan, one Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary soldier was killed and four were injured in an IED blast in the Buleda area of Kech district, officials said.
The IED attack took place as an FC convoy was passing an area called ‘Gili’ some 100 kilometers away from Turbat, Insap Baloch, the head of the paramilitary Levis force in the area, said.
“The security forces have surrounded the area and injured soldiers have been shifted to hospital for medical treatment,” Baloch added.
In another attack, one soldier of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) was injured in an explosion that targeted a CTD vehicle in the Pishin district.
With inputs from Saadullah Akhter in Quetta
Six killed in suspected militant violence in Pakistan, citizens hold protest rallies demanding peace
https://arab.news/grrqn
Six killed in suspected militant violence in Pakistan, citizens hold protest rallies demanding peace
- Policeman was among three people killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, paramilitary soldier killed in Balochistan
- Protest rally in Bannu came under fire by unidentified suspects, killing two protesters and injuring 24 others
Senior general hails China-Pakistan corridor as ‘stabilizing force’ for South Asia
- General Sahir Shamshad Mirza emphasizes Pakistan’s strategic bond with China at a major Beijing forum
- He hails CPEC as a game-changing initiative to ensure greater regional connectivity and economic growth
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza said on Friday the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was not just beneficial for his country’s economy but also a “stabilizing force” for South Asia.
CPEC is a massive infrastructure and economic development initiative that was launched in 2015 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It aims to enhance connectivity between the two states through a network of roads, railways, energy projects, and special economic zones.
The primary goal of CPEC is to improve Pakistan’s infrastructure, boost trade, and create jobs while providing China with direct access to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan’s Gwadar Port.
It is widely viewed as a strategic partnership between the two countries that has the potential to reshape the region’s economic geography.
“Our relations with [the] People’s Republic of China are truly special and time-tested relationship that not only serves as a testament to our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership but also as a cornerstone for peace and stability, both for Pakistan and the region that are today fraught with challenges,” Mirza said while addressing the Security Cooperation and Asia-Pacific Prosperity and Stability Session of the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in China.
“Ladies and gentlemen, [the] China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative,” he continued. “It is an initiative of enhanced regional connectivity and economic development. Indeed, CPEC is not only a game changer for Pakistan’s economy, but also a stabilizing force in South Asia.”
The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is being held from September 12 to 14, with unprecedented participation from over 100 countries and organizations. Under the theme of “Promoting Peace for a Shared Future,” this year’s event features critical discussions on global security, regional stability, and innovative technologies in defense.
The Pakistan government is already negotiating “CPEC 2.0” to mark the second phase of the joint corridor project carried out by the two countries, shifting the focus from infrastructure and energy projects to industrial cooperation, agriculture, socio-economic development and technological advancements.
CPEC 2.0 also aims to develop new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to attract foreign investment and boost industrial growth, as part of Pakistan’s economic revitalization strategy.
– With input from China News Service via Reuters
Pakistan launches probe into ex-PM Khan’s ‘threatening’ social media post targeting state institutions
- Khan criticized powerful people, saying they were putting the country’s stability at stake to maintain power
- Information minister say FIA is investigating who is operating Khan’s social media account and from where
ISLAMABAD: The government has directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate a “threatening” social media post by former Prime Minister Imran Khan in which he criticized Pakistan’s military and judiciary, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Friday, adding a team of interrogators was currently questioning him in prison.
Since the collapse of his government in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, Khan has repeatedly alleged that his ouster was orchestrated by US officials in Washington with the complicity of Pakistan’s military, accusations that both the US and Pakistani authorities have denied.
Khan, who has been imprisoned for over a year on multiple charges, has continuously criticized Pakistan’s military and intelligence services, accusing them of involvement in a failed assassination attempt on him during a protest in November 2022.
In a recent social media post, he likened the current military leadership to General Yahya Khan, accusing them of risking the country’s stability to maintain power. He also named Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa among the powerful individuals who he said were upholding the “system of injustice and brutality” against his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
“The FIA is investigating the matter of the threatening post by PTI’s founding chairman,” the information minister said in a statement.
“The founding chairman of PTI shared an anti-state post on social media and posted material against Pakistan’s integrity,” he continued, adding he had targeted the institutions of military and judiciary.
The minister said that an FIA team had arrived at Adiala Jail to determine who was operating Khan’s social media account and from where.
Tarrar did not elaborate on why he considered the ex-premier’s lengthy post threatening, though it urged Pakistanis to “come out for a street movement to protect our freedom.”
Khan’s legal spokesperson, Naeem Haider Panjutha, also confirmed that a “four-member team” from the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing had gone to the prison to interrogate the former prime minister while condemning the development.
Dhaka’s National Press Club marks 76th death anniversary of Pakistan’s founder
- Participants say Bangladesh would have been treated like Kashmir if it had not been part of Pakistan in 1947
- They emphasize the need for closer relations with Pakistan and China, asking their country to honor MA Jinnah
ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, the National Press Club in Dhaka arranged an event in remembrance of Pakistan’s founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, to mark his 76th death anniversary with Urdu songs, poetry, and recitals this week, according to a report published by a Bangladeshi newspaper on Thursday.
The tribute to Jinnah comes at a time of profound political change in Bangladesh, where just weeks ago, a student-led protest toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid’s government, marking the end of her 15-year rule.
The unrest led to the toppling of statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s founding father and Wajid’s father, amidst widespread dissatisfaction with his daughter’s increasingly autocratic governance.
The event in remembrance of Pakistan’s founding leader is particularly striking, given Bangladesh’s historical resentment toward Pakistan over the events of the 1971 independence war, signaling a re-evaluation of the country’s political and historical narratives, driven by a turbulent domestic environment and evolving sentiments toward its neighbors.
“If Bangladesh had not been part of Pakistan in 1947, we would have been in the same position as Kashmir today, with the Indian junta holding weapons to our necks,” one of the speakers identified as Muhammad Samsuddin was quoted as saying by the newspaper. “Bangladesh gained independence because of Pakistan, which Jinnah helped create.”
“Why should we change the name of Allama Iqbal Hall or Jinnah Avenue,” he asked. “These changes were made because [New] Delhi wanted them, but we did not. Bangladesh must foster strong relations with China and Pakistan.”
Another speaker, Nazrul Islam, said Bangladesh should continue to have good relations with Pakistan.
“If Jinnah had not been there, Pakistan would not have existed, and without Pakistan, Bangladesh would not exist,” he continued. “Jinnah is the father of our nation, but we do not acknowledge it.”
“We must preserve our brotherhood, and I hope that both Jinnah’s birth and death anniversaries will continue to be observed here every year,” he added.
The Bangladeshi newspaper informed the Pakistani high commissioner was invited to the event, though he could not attend the ceremony and sent his deputy.
Two Pakistani students studying in Bangladesh were present at the gathering and performed Urdu songs dedicated to their country’s founding father.
Pakistan’s army chief vows support to police amid rising militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Militant factions have relentlessly targeted the cops in the province, leading to police protests in KP
- General Munir vows to maintain ‘the hard-earned peace’ during his visit to the Orakzai tribal district
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir praised the police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province during a visit to the Orakzai tribal district on Friday, vowing to provide all possible support to them in performing their duties.
The army chief’s visit comes at a time when militant factions operating in the area have relentlessly targeted the police, killing over 75 of them since the beginning of the year, leading to protests by law enforcement personnel in various parts of the province against these killings.
Security in the region has mostly been dominated by the army, which has been fighting proscribed militant factions like Al Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban for about two decades, with the police seeking greater government support to empower them to deal with extremist violence in the area.
The military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), informed General Munir received a briefing on the security situation in the area along with the ongoing intelligence-based counterterrorism operations that have been undertaken to ensure stability in the restive tribal district.
“Pak Army will continue to provide all out support to KPK Police and other LEAs in enabling them to perform their duties in newly merged districts,” the army chief said, referring to the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan that were integrated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa nearly six years ago.
He paid tribute to all the uniformed personnel of the police and security forces who had laid down their lives while performing their duties, saying “the hard-earned peace” achieved through their sacrifices would be maintained at all costs.
The army chief also appreciated the support of the local population in assisting the security forces with their efforts, noting that their positive role was essential in sustaining peace in the region.
Earlier, General Munir laid a floral wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial and interacted with troops in Orakzai who had participated in recent counterterrorism operations in the area.
Pakistan stocks rally after policy rate cut, positive developments on IMF front
- The benchmark KSE-100 index rose by more than 800 on Friday morning
- It declined in the afternoon session to close at 79,333, up by 315 points
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday rallied by more than 300 points, according to the PSX website, following a policy rate cut by the central bank and positive developments with regard to the country’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.
The benchmark KSE-100 index rose by more than 800 on Friday morning, but declined in the afternoon trading session to close at 79,333, up by 315 points.
A day earlier, the central bank cut its key policy rate by 200 basis points to 17.5 percent — the third straight reduction since June as the country looks to spur growth as inflation eases.
“The MPC assessed the real interest rate to still be adequately positive to bring inflation down to the medium-term target of 5–7 percent and help ensure macroeconomic stability,” the State Bank of Pakistan’s Monetary Policy Committee said in a statement, announcing the cut.
“This would be essential to achieve sustainable economic growth over the medium term.”
Separately, the IMF said its board would meet at the end of this month to discuss Pakistan’s new $7 billion bailout program that was agreed in July.
“All matters with the IMF have been settled amicably,” Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said in a statement on Thursday. “These matters will be finalized in the meeting of the IMF board this month.”
Pakistan’s sovereign dollar bonds also rallied on Thursday, with the 2031 maturity trading 1 cent higher to bid at 79.93 cents on the dollar, according to Tradeweb data.
