ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday dispatched a consignment of relief items to Lebanon, confirming in a statement that the initiative is part of the government’s effort to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by Israel’s military campaign in the Middle East.
Israel besieged the Gaza Strip and launched airstrikes after a surprise attack by Hamas in October last year, which the group said was in response to the worsening conditions of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
The war has lasted for over a year, resulting in nearly 43,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children.
More recently, Israel opened another front in Lebanon, with the stated aim of destroying Hezbollah, which attempted to provide military assistance to Palestinians, raising fears of a broader regional conflict, potentially involving Iran.
“On the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, National Disaster Management Authority continues to provide humanitarian aid to the war-affected people of Gaza and Lebanon,” the NDMA said. “On Thursday, the second consignment of aid was dispatched from Karachi to Lebanon.”
“This aid shipment, sent by NDMA in collaboration with Al-Khidmat Foundation, comprises approximately 100 tons of supplies, including medicines, ready-to-eat meat, tents, tarpaulins, warm bedding, winter clothing, and powdered milk,” it continued.
It informed the send-off ceremony, held at Jinnah International Airport, was attended by representatives from NDMA, the foreign ministry, Al-Khidmat Foundation and the local administration.
“This is Pakistan’s 12th aid shipment to Palestine and Lebanon,” the statement said. “Prior to this, 10 aid consignments were sent to Palestine, and Thursday marked the second shipment to Lebanon.”
The government has already established the prime minister’s relief fund to collect public donations to support the people in Gaza and Lebanon.
Pakistan dispatches relief aid to Lebanon for victims of Israel’s military campaign
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Pakistan dispatches relief aid to Lebanon for victims of Israel’s military campaign
- The relief goods include medicines, ready-to-eat meat, warm bedding and winter clothing
- This is Pakistan’s second aid shipment to Lebanon since Israel started targeting its cities
Police kill five militants, foil plan to block highway in Pakistan’s southwest
- The militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Mastung district of Balochistan
- Search, combing operations are underway to apprehend accomplices of militants who fled the scene
QUETTA: Pakistan’s counterterrorism police on Monday said they had killed five militants, who were planning to block the Quetta–Sibi highway and target security forces, in an intelligence-based operation in the southwestern Balochistan province.
The operation took place in Mastung district when militants affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were planning to carry out “subversive activities” against security forces and the public, according to a CTD spokesperson.
CTD received credible intelligence that armed BLA militants had taken positions near Mastung’s Dasht area to block the Quetta–Sibi highway and target security forces and civilian traffic. Acting swiftly on the information, CTD teams moved into the area. The militants opened indiscriminate fire upon sighting CTD personnel.
“During the encounter, five unknown terrorists were shot dead, while other accomplices managed to flee, taking advantage of the rugged and mountainous terrain,” the CTD spokesperson said in a statement.
Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has long been the site of a separatist insurgency and witnessed a series of high-profile militant attacks last year. In March, the BLA hijacked a passenger train and the siege killed at least 60 people, while in May, a suicide bombing in Khuzdar killed several children on a school bus.
The separatists accuse the central government of stealing their resources to fund development in Punjab. The federal government denies the allegations and says it is working for the uplift of local communities in Balochistan, where China has been building a deep-sea port as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
Officials found seven hand grenades, five sub-machine guns with live rounds and three motorcycles from the scene, according to the CTD statement.
“Search and combing operations are underway to apprehend the fleeing terrorists and dismantle the remaining network,” it read.
