ISLAMABAD: Five militants and a Pakistani policeman were killed in three military operations in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani army said on Monday.
The northwestern Pakistani province, which borders Afghanistan, has been the scene of a number of attacks on police, security forces and anti-polio vaccination teams in recent weeks.
In a joint intelligence-based operation, three militants were gunned down in KP’s Mohmand district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing. However, an exchange of gunfire with militants left Police Constable Abrar Hussain dead.
“During the conduct of the operation, terrorists’ hideout was also busted and a cache of arms, ammunition and explosives was recovered,” the ISPR said in a statement.
In the second operation in Dera Ismail Khan, security forces killed Sifatullah alias Mullah and injured three other militants.
“Sifatullah was involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area including facilitation of suicide bombing attack in Daraban on 12 December 2023 and was highly wanted by law enforcement agencies,” the ISPR said.
Another militant was killed in a gunfight in the North Waziristan district, according to the army.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed security forces for the successful operations and paid homage to the police constable killed in the Mohmand district.
“The Pakistani nation stands by its security forces until the menace of terrorism is completely eradicated from the country,” he said.
Pakistan initially witnessed a spike in militant violence in its two western provinces, KP and Balochistan, since the Pakistani Taliban called off their fragile truce with the government in November 2022. The group has intensified its attacks in recent months.
In a major attack in KP’s Bannu, ten soldiers were killed when militants launched a coordinated assault on a military cantonment on July 15.
Islamabad has blamed the recent surge in attacks on militants operating out of neighboring Afghanistan. Kabul denies the allegations and says rising violence in Pakistan is a domestic issue for Islamabad.
Five militants, one policeman killed in three military operations in Pakistan’s northwest — army
https://arab.news/nv4mz
Five militants, one policeman killed in three military operations in Pakistan’s northwest — army
- Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen a number of attacks on police, security forces and anti-polio vaccinators in recent weeks
- Islamabad has blamed the recent surge in attacks on militants operating out of neighboring Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegation
Pakistan stocks recover as oil supply fears ease after Islamabad seeks Red Sea route— analyst
- Pakistan has sought Saudi help to secure oil supplies via Red Sea port after Iran’s closure of Strait if Hormuz
- Analyst says higher crude oil prices, expectations of IMF releasing next loan tranche also triggered bullish activity
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks marked a sharp recovery when trading closed on Thursday, as institutional activity increased following Islamabad’s move to seek crude oil supplies through the Red Sea port eased oil supply fears, a financial analyst said.
Pakistani stocks have recorded a sharp decline this week, with the benchmark KSE-100 index recording its largest-ever single-day decline on Monday when it plunged 16,089 points. Escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered panic selling at the Pakistani bourse, forcing a temporary trading halt on Monday.
The KSE-100 index, however, gained 3.49 percent or 5,433.46 points to close at 161,210.67 when trading ended on Thursday, up from the previous close of 155,777.21 points, according to Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) data.
Pakistan’s Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki on Wednesday to discuss Iran’s closure of the key Strait of Hormuz, which has threatened Pakistan’s energy supply. Roughly 20 percent of the global oil and gas supply passes through the route. Saudi Arabia indicated it could facilitate shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, offering an alternative route if Gulf shipping lanes remain disrupted, the petroleum ministry said on Wednesday.
“Stocks staged a sharp recovery at PSX amid institutional activity on easing fuel supply fears after KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] commits oil supplies through the Red Sea port,” Ahsan Mehanti, chief executive officer at Arif Habib Commodities, told Arab News.
He said higher global crude oil prices and expectations of the International Monetary Fund releasing its next tranche of the $7 billion loan for Pakistan also helped bullish activity at the PSX.
An IMF mission was in Pakistan to hold talks on the third review of a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility multi-year program, and for the second review of the $1.4 billion Resilience and Sustainability Facility this week.
However, the delegation left for Türkiye amid tensions in the Gulf. Pakistani officials have said talks are likely to continue virtually in the coming days.
Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities said in its daily market review report that strong institutional buying “turned the tide” on Thursday after the market’s recent overreaction to regional issues.
The report added that Hub Power Company (HUBC), Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC), Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), Engro Corporation (ENGROH), and Meezan Bank Limited (MEBL) collectively contributed 2,197 points to the KSE benchmark’s gain.
Topline Securities said 723 million shares were traded on Thursday, with K-Electric Limited (KEL) stealing the spotlight as more than 1.17 billion shares changed hands.
Pakistani investors are closely monitoring developments in the Gulf, particularly around energy routes and further retaliatory actions, as the conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain.
