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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>Bananas vs sour grapes in National Assembly today</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2565192/national-assembly-today-these-cannot-give-a-dam</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2565192/national-assembly-today-these-cannot-give-a-dam#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Sep 25 06:34:26 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Noor ul Huda Bhurgri]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Government discards floods, terrorism, abandons agenda as PTI lawmakers run 'awami assembly' outside parliament]]>
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				<![CDATA[The national assembly ran two sessions today. Not much was acheived in either of them. &ldquo;Count the quorum,&rdquo; chorused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members of National Assembly, as the official session commenced.

&quot;We were meant to discuss the floods and the terror attack in Balochistan today, please sit down,&quot; pleaded NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq as the PTI members moved towards the exit.

On a day, when Punjab is reeling from over two weeks of relentless, uninterrupted flooding, and the country is overwhelmed with residual damage from recent deathly floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, the opposition and the government could not set aside their personal disdain for each other long enough to take up the day&#39;s agenda.

Thousands of citizens across the country have been displaced. They are cramped in make shift tents and government schools, where bathroom facilities are scarce and food supply is limited. Livestock has been uprooted and vast acres of agricultural land devastated.

Read: Did India deliberately flood Pakistan?

This monsoon season, which began on June 16, has claimed 884 lives and injured at least 1,176. In Buner, entire families have perished in landslides triggered by torrential rain while across Punjab entire villages have been uprooted.

Elsewhere, in Balochistan, there has been a spate of terror attacks in recent months with the most recent taking earlier this week, when a suicide bomber decimated 15 civilans in Quetta near a poltical rally. The attacker had meant to target the rally taken out by Balochistan National Party (BNP)-Mengal in protest of Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Dr Mahrung Baloch and other Baloch political leaders&#39; arrest, and a police crackdown on ongoing sit-ins. Quetta District authorities had reportedly denied BNP-Mengal lisence to hold the rally.

Yet, our elected legislators, members of National Assembly, continue their staunch tradition of letting intra party disputes stand higher than national concerns.

Federal Law Minister Azam Tarar accused the PTI of being &quot;selfish&quot; and positioning their political ambitions above the &quot;country&#39;s needs&quot;.

Yet, when PTI&#39;s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan drew attention to the National Disaster Management Authority&#39;s (NDMA) performance during the floods, live feed of the session was disrupted on the state broadcaster&#39;s channel.

Khan ignored the law minister and marched down the aisle, exiting with the rest of the opposition lawmakers. Khan said this was part of PTI&#39;s continued boycott of the house and set up his party&#39;s own impromptu assembly outside the parliament premises. Asad Qaiser led the proceedings during this &quot;awami assembly&quot; - as they put it. Here, a &quot;resolution&quot; was passed to extend the deadline for repatriation of Afghan citizens. Those privy to the matter remain unaware of this &quot;assembly&#39;s&quot; jurisdiction.

Speaker Sadiq took this opportunity to remind the house that PTI complains of not being given space to put forth their views before the house and yet, were leaving now when they had the floor.

As water heads downstream from Multan to Sindh, it is apparent that the public cannot look to the country&#39;s leaders for comfort. Are these the people&#39;s representatives who will lead us out of disaster as the country grapples with climate change and a resurgance in terrorism?

&nbsp;

With additional reporting by Chaudhry Waqas]]>
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			<title>Terrorism prosecution in Pakistan: a follow-up</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564271/terrorism-prosecution-in-pakistan-a-follow-up</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2564271/terrorism-prosecution-in-pakistan-a-follow-up#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 25 09:19:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Manzar Zaidi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[T-Magazine]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2564271</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Has terrorism prosecution through the rule of law kept pace with the changing threat in Pakistan?]]>
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				<![CDATA[In 2016, I authored the report Terrorism Prosecution in Pakistan (open-source, accessible via Academia and ResearchGate), which critically examined Pakistan&rsquo;s anti-terrorism prosecution system through an empirical review of Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) judgments and focus group discussions with police, prosecutors, and judges. That study highlighted systemic flaws: over-reliance on eyewitness testimony, neglect of forensic evidence, proliferation of tangential litigation, weak case management, and the pervasive &ldquo;fear factor&rdquo; discouraging witnesses from testifying.

Nearly a decade later, Pakistan has traversed a turbulent trajectory in its fight against terrorism. While large-scale military operations after 2013 displaced militant groups from the tribal areas into Afghanistan and temporarily reduced attacks, recent years &mdash; especially post-2021 &mdash; have witnessed a steady resurgence of terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. As I ponder writing a follow-up to the 2016 study, against this backdrop, it is crucial to ask: has terrorism prosecution through the rule of law kept pace with the changing threat?

Case flows and regional variations

When I wrote the first report, I expected that the heavy case backlog in ATCs would begin to ease as terrorism incidents declined after 2013. Indeed, Punjab and Sindh saw a significant reduction in attacks, and one might have anticipated a corresponding decrease in ATC caseloads in those provinces. Yet in KP and Balochistan &mdash; frontline regions where attacks have again been rising especially since 2021 &mdash; the flow of cases may be increasing once more. The key question is whether ATCs in these provinces have rationalized case management, or whether they remain overburdened as they were when first examined in 2016?

Back then, my report found that KP ATCs were already struggling with the aftermath of the Swat insurgency, carrying a heavy backlog of cases dating from 2007 onwards. Judges often granted repeated adjournments, investigations were weak, and prosecutors lacked the tools to withstand intimidation. Although the province was formally rationalizing case flows (for example, by clustering terrorism cases in certain ATCs), the sheer number of residual cases combined with witness fear meant acquittals remained the norm.

Balochistan presented a slightly different challenge even in 2016. My first study observed that while Punjab and Sindh were often clogged with tangential litigation, (ordinary violent crimes framed under terrorism charges) in Balochistan the problem were genuine terrorism cases piling up, without resolution. Witnesses were far fewer, prosecutions weaker, and the intimidation factor even greater, because insurgent and sectarian groups wielded more direct control over communities.

If we compare that baseline with today&rsquo;s rising wave of terrorism in KP and Balochistan, several questions emerge: -

Has KP&rsquo;s rationalization experiment endured? Or have new spikes in violence post-2021 overwhelmed ATCs again, reversing whatever gains were made in backlog reduction after the Swat crisis?

Is Balochistan still seeing primarily &lsquo;real terrorism&rsquo; cases in ATCs, and if so, are conviction rates still as low as they were, when the first report highlighted pervasive acquittals due to fear and poor evidence?

Have the systemic issues flagged in 2016 &mdash; over-reliance on ocular evidence, intimidation of witnesses, tangential case inflows, weak forensics &mdash; been meaningfully addressed in these provinces, or are courts reliving the same cycle of overburden and collapse?

This raises a critical set of questions for provinces relatively less affected by terrorism for a follow-up study, i.e. how have declining caseloads affected the functioning of ATCs in Punjab and Sindh?

Has the relative breathing space created by lower case inflows given the judicial system an opportunity to reinvent itself, to experiment with stronger evidence standards, and to adapt procedures to the evolving nature of terrorist threats?

Things may look better in Punjab compared to KP or Balochistan &mdash; but is this relative stability producing ripple effects and spillover benefits across the wider criminal justice system, strengthening prosecutors, police, and judges beyond just terrorism cases?

In short, while Punjab&rsquo;s reduced caseloads might provide space for procedural innovation, KP and Balochistan are once again testing whether Pakistan&rsquo;s criminal justice system has learned the lessons highlighted in the 2016 report &mdash; or whether the weaknesses then diagnosed being replicated in today&rsquo;s more complex security landscape. Even more important, are all the Anti- Terrorism Courts in the country learning lessons from each other?

&lsquo;Tangential&rsquo; Cases

My first report found that ATCs were clogged with non-terrorism cases &mdash; kidnapping for ransom, extortion, violent crimes &mdash; often prosecuted under terrorism charges, despite lacking any nexus with organized militancy. This tangential litigation drained time and resources from &lsquo;genuine&rsquo; terrorism prosecutions.

In my 2016 report, one of the most striking findings was that ATCs were being misused as catch-all forums for ordinary violent crimes. Offences such as kidnapping for ransom, extortion, land disputes, honor killings, even violent protests and acid attacks, were frequently prosecuted under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act(ATA), despite lacking any direct nexus with organized militancy or terrorism.

This practice created two critical distortions. The first was by overburdening of ATCs: by diverting large volumes of ordinary violent crime into ATCs, the system clogged itself, delaying the very &lsquo;fast-track&rsquo; terrorism cases for which the courts were created.

Secondly, higher acquittal ratios resulted from this backlog. Since ATCs apply a much higher evidentiary burden than ordinary courts (proof beyond shadow of doubt, rather than balance of probabilities) many of these &lsquo;non-terrorism&rsquo; cases also ended in acquittals, frustrating both justice and deterrence.

A follow-up empirical study would need to test whether this under-utilization of ATCs has decreased. Probable outcomes suggest three possible scenarios: -

Continuation of Tangential Litigation- Police and local administrations may still prefer to apply Section 7 ATA as a tool of expediency, both because it carries heavier punishments and because it makes bail harder to secure. If this continues, ATCs will remain clogged with non-terrorism disputes, undermining their credibility and limiting their ability to handle genuine terrorism cases effectively.

Partial Rationalization- In provinces like Punjab, where terrorism incidents declined significantly after 2013, and to some extent in KP, reduced inflows of &lsquo;real terrorism&rsquo; cases may have created breathing space for ATCs. If prosecutors and judges have used this space to sift out tangential cases and re-channel them to sessions courts, ATCs may have started to re-focus on core terrorism trials. This would reflect an improvement.

Reversal under rising violence- In KP and Balochistan, where terrorism has resurged since 2021, the temptation to label ordinary violent crime as terrorism may be increasing again. This allows authorities to signal toughness, but at the cost of repeating the cycle of 2016: clogged ATCs, poor case management, and acquittals.

If tangential litigation continues unchecked, conviction rates will remain lower. Genuine terrorism cases will slip through the cracks as courts drown in unrelated disputes. Public trust in ATCs will erode as communities will view them as politicized instruments rather than specialized forums for counter-terrorism.

Furthermore, resource misallocation will persist. Forensics, witness protection, and prosecutorial energy will be wasted on cases that could have been disposed of in regular sessions courts.

Last but not the least, backlogs will rise disproportionately in conflict provinces. KP and Balochistan will see ATCs once again overwhelmed by both real terrorism and misclassified cases, leading to systemic paralysis.

On the other hand, if rationalization has gained traction, and there were signs that case flow management was being emphasized even in 2016, then specialization will have improved. ATCs would be finally focusing on core terrorism cases, building expertise and consistency in rulings. The ripple effects may have spread, as improved case management in ATCs could have pushed police and prosecutors to refine charging practices, indirectly strengthening the wider criminal justice system.

Importantly, conviction ratios might have improved significantly. With fewer tangential cases and clearer evidentiary focus, prosecutors may be presenting stronger files and securing more convictions in genuine terrorism cases.

The future of terrorism prosecution in Pakistan may hinge less on drafting new laws &mdash; the ATA has already been amended repeatedly &mdash; and more on jurisdictional discipline. If ATCs remain overrun with tangential cases, history will repeat itself: clogged dockets, weak prosecutions, and systemic failure. If, however, provinces can enforce a tight filter on what qualifies as &ldquo;terrorism&rdquo; under Section 7 ATA, then ATCs may have already evolved, or might yet evolve into the specialized courts they were originally intended to be.

Forensic and modern evidence

In my 2016 report, I documented how Pakistan&rsquo;s criminal justice system overwhelmingly relied on ocular testimony, with forensic evidence serving at best as a supplementary tool. The typical pattern was that police &ldquo;created&rdquo; witnesses to patch evidentiary gaps, while forensic reports &mdash; chemical examiner certificates, ballistics, or post-mortems &mdash; were treated as peripheral add-ons rather than central proof.

Even the establishment of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) &mdash; a landmark institution by regional standards &mdash; had not shifted courtroom culture. Judges often preferred witness testimony, prosecutors rarely used forensic findings proactively, and defence lawyers were the ones exploiting forensic reports to create doubt. The result, as my first report showed, was a system structurally biased toward witness fabrication and systemic acquittals.

Nearly a decade later, Pakistan stands at a crossroads. Three possible trajectories emerge for the use of forensic science in terrorism prosecutions: -

Status Quo Persistence- If court culture has not shifted still; forensic reports will remain a &lsquo;decorative&rsquo; supplement rather than decisive evidence. Police will continue defaulting to creating eyewitnesses, and ATCs will keep acquitting on the basis of contradictions in testimony. This would mean that, despite billions invested in forensic labs, the eyewitness based, acquittal-heavy pattern noted in 2016 will persist.

Gradual Integration of Forensics- In provinces like Punjab, where PFSA is established and case inflows may have declined, ATCs may finally begin relying more substantively on DNA, ballistics, digital evidence, and crime scene analysis. If prosecutors have received sustained training, and if courts have started to demand scientific corroboration, forensics could have slowly moved from a supporting role to a co-equal evidentiary stream alongside testimony. This could have improved conviction ratios in genuine terrorism cases, and reduced dependence on vulnerable or hostile witnesses.

Transformational Shift- If Pakistan&rsquo;s Fair Trial Act (allowing admissibility of intercept and surveillance evidence) has been operationalized in tandem with forensic science, Pakistan&rsquo;s ATCs could have already made the leap from witness-driven trials to intelligence admissible and science-driven trials.

Forensic and intelligence-based prosecutions would have already lessened the crippling impact of fear on witnesses &mdash; a central weakness identified in 2016. Such a shift would not only have modernized terrorism prosecution but would have also rippled outward, strengthening ordinary criminal justice by embedding forensic reliance as a norm.

The real challenge is not infrastructure &mdash; forensic facilities exist &mdash; but judicial and prosecutorial culture. Till around 2016, judges often dismissed forensic findings as secondary, while prosecutors lacked the confidence or skill to build cases around them. Unless the courts are re-oriented to place weight on scientific evidence, Pakistan risks repeating the past: laboratories producing reports that gather dust, while trials continue to revolve around fallible or fabricated witnesses.

If nothing changes, ATCs in 2030 may look much as they did in 2016: clogged, dependent on discredited testimony, with conviction rates hovering on lower side. But if courts and prosecutors shift or have already shifted toward forensic-anchored prosecutions, Pakistan could finally address one of the structural weaknesses diagnosed in the first report &mdash; and move or be moving towards a system where the science of crime replaces the artifice of manufactured witnesses.

Bottom of Form

The Fair Trial Act aimed to make intelligence-derived evidence (intercepts, surveillance, human intelligence) admissible in ATCs. In 2016, however, such evidence had yet to surface meaningfully in prosecutions. A critical part of any follow-up study would be to determine whether intelligence evidence is now admitted and relied upon in terrorism cases, or whether Pakistan&rsquo;s ATCs still ignore this vital evidentiary stream?

Witness protection and the fear factor

The report identified fear as the single most corrosive factor in terrorism prosecutions &mdash; witnesses routinely turned hostile, resiled, or refused to testify due to intimidation. Although Section 21 of ATA provides for anonymity and witness protection, it was never widely operationalized. The question for this follow-up is whether subsequent witness protection initiatives (federal and provincial) have had any impact, and whether more witnesses are now willing to depose in ATCs?

Federal Level- Pakistan enacted The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act, 2017, aiming to provide anonymity, relocation, identity change, and protection for witnesses in heinous and terrorism-related cases. However, implementation has been weak nationwide. Reports(anecdotal) highlight that federal and provincial schemes &lsquo;have performed poorly due to lack of proper implementation&rsquo;.

Provincial Legislation- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) passed the KP Witness Protection Act, 2021, which establishes a Witness Protection Board and Unit. Its provisions allow for anonymity, safe housing, identity change, video link testimony, restricted courtroom entry, and protection orders covering witnesses in terrorism and other heinous cases.

Punjab enacted the Punjab Witness Protection Act, 2018, also establishing similar protections for witnesses in terrorism and serious criminal cases&mdash;such as prohibiting cross-examination by the accused, and mechanisms for anonymity and protective orders.

However, if despite these legal instruments, if implementation has remained merely aspirational, the reasons may not require even too much brainstorming; the usual &lsquo;suspects&rsquo; would be there to hinder implementation. I can make an &lsquo;uneducated&rsquo; guess and be correct on all accounts. Typically, these would be; provincial systems lack resources, lack of public awareness, operational capacity, and institutional coordination&mdash;hindering real-world protective outcomes.

If there has been significant difference made, it might be unevenly distributed. KP and Punjab now have adequate legal frameworks in place. Yet, effectiveness might remain limited due to resource gaps and weak execution, even more when Balochistan is compared to Punjab and KP. Witness trust in the system most likely remains fragile&mdash;compliance and willingness to testify may not have improved notably, without visible success stories.

However, if operational witness protection&mdash;via anonymity, relocation, and secure testimony (e.g. through video link)&mdash;has somehow significantly reduced witness turnarounds and bolstered conviction rates, even partial improvements in KP or Punjab could have created tremendous spillover benefits. This might have encouraged police, prosecutors, and judges to rely more on testimonial evidence, reinforced by protective guarantees.

Successfully implemented, witness protection could be on the way to becoming a model for broader criminal justice reform&mdash;strengthening investigative credibility, enabling more robust prosecutions, and narrowing reliance on coerced or fabricated testimony.

Whether all this has happened, substantive research will tell, in the years to come.

Police and prosecution reforms

By 2016, police investigation remained weak, marked by poor forensic collection, defective FIRs, and over-reliance on &lsquo;padding&rsquo; cases with dubious witnesses. Prosecutors often adopted a laissez-faire attitude, while courts dismissed cases perfunctorily. Since then, there has been investment in Counter Terrorism Departments(CTDs), training, and induction of graduates as corporals into counter terrorism investigation cadres. Any follow-up study might empirically test whether these reforms have translated into stronger prosecutions, or whether the systemic weaknesses identified in 2016 persist?

When I wrote the first report in 2016, the picture of Pakistan&rsquo;s terrorism prosecution system was not rosy. Investigations were weak and fragmented. Crime scenes were rarely processed scientifically, forensic evidence was perfunctorily collected, and FIRs were riddled with defects. Most tellingly, police officers routinely &lsquo;padded&rsquo; cases with dubious or &lsquo;created&rsquo; witnesses to cover gaps, knowing full well that prosecutors often turned a blind eye, or could not force cops to rectify defects in their cases.

Prosecution services themselves appeared to adopt a laissez-faire attitude, letting poorly built cases trickle into ATCs. Judges, confronted with contradictory testimonies and absent scientific support, usually dismissed these cases in perfunctory orders, adding to an already dismal conviction ratio.

In the years since, the state has invested heavily in strengthening CTDs. A major innovation has been the induction of corporals &mdash; graduate-level recruits, relatively young, digitally literate, and more professionally trained than the traditional police cadre. The idea was to inject fresh talent into the investigative system, people who could gather and analyze evidence with discipline and rigour, and who would be less bound by the inertia of legacy policing practices.

These corporals were trained in modern methods, given exposure to forensic institutions like the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA), and in some cases even provided modules on digital intelligence, social media analysis and cyber forensics.

Yet, as with so many reform efforts in Pakistan&rsquo;s criminal justice system, ambition has collided with structure. Corporals, despite their potential, found themselves caught in an uncertain service framework. Their status, promotion tracks, and long-term retention policies remain poorly defined. Attrition has already become a concern as corporals seek alternative careers when upward mobility is blocked. What was meant to be a permanent professional cadre risks becoming a revolving door of trained, but departing young officers.

Parallel to these police reforms, prosecution departments were also supposed to be strengthened. A lesson of the 2016 report was that police and prosecutors worked in silos, with little meaningful coordination. The ATC case file &mdash; the challan &mdash; was often prepared without prosecutorial input, and the prosecutor&rsquo;s role was reduced to presenting in court whatever the police brought, however weak.

The concept of prosecutorial gatekeeping &mdash; where prosecutors vet and refine cases before trial, filtering out weak or tangential cases &mdash; was almost entirely absent. This meant that ATCs were flooded with cases, many of which should have been diverted back to regular sessions courts.

In theory, corporals could have been part of the answer here (or maybe they already are). If CTD corporals worked closely with prosecutors from the very start of an investigation, weak evidence could be flagged early, and cases could be strengthened before reaching the ATCs.

Instead of seeing prosecutors as last-minute courtroom presenters, the system could embed them as partners in investigation, exercising gatekeeping functions that reduce the burden of tangential litigation. But this requires cultural change on both sides: police must accept prosecutorial oversight, and prosecutors must step up from their passive role to actively shape case preparation.

Looking forward, the picture could evolve in several ways. In the optimistic scenario, corporals might have become institutionalized within CTDs, their service structures regularized, and their careers stabilized. With training, they might have started to rely more on forensic science and digital evidence, reducing dependence on fragile eyewitness testimony.

Prosecutors, emboldened by clearer legal mandates and better liaison mechanisms, perhaps now exercise stronger gatekeeping functions, screening out weak cases and ensuring only those with prosecutable evidence reach the ATCs. The result would be a leaner, more credible terrorism docket and higher conviction ratios.

In the pessimistic scenario, however, corporals remained marginalized, their attrition rates rising as frustration with stagnating careers pushed them out. Prosecutors continued their laissez-faire posture, reluctant or unable to challenge investigative defects, and the courts continued to dismiss terrorism cases for lack of credible evidence.

In this version of the projected future, the same systemic weaknesses I identified in 2016 persist, only now with added disillusionment among a younger cadre that had once promised reform.

More likely is a mixed scenario, where Punjab, with PFSA and the largest CTD, shows measurable improvement, while KP and Balochistan &mdash; under greater security stress and resource scarcity &mdash; lag behind. Sindh may remain caught in between, its ATCs still clogged with politically-tinged cases and tangential litigation.

Ultimately, the real test of reform lies not just in numbers &mdash; how many corporals were recruited, or how many new training modules were delivered &mdash; but in whether the culture of investigation and prosecution has shifted.

If corporals are empowered and retained, if prosecutors act as genuine gatekeepers rather than passive conduits, and if courts begin rewarding forensic-anchored prosecutions, then the weaknesses identified nearly a decade ago might finally give way to a more resilient system. Without such shifts, however, the cycle of weak investigations, padded witnesses, and perfunctory acquittals will continue, regardless of how many corporals or prosecutors Pakistan hires.

Bottom of Form

Compromise and coercion

Finally, my first report noted that compromise &mdash; whether through private settlements, coercion, or intimidation &mdash; routinely undermined prosecutions. Terrorist organizations often coerced families into silence, while victims of kidnapping for ransom negotiated directly with abductors. This follow-up aims to assess whether such coercive settlements remain prevalent, or whether the state has strengthened its writ in terrorism prosecutions?

Towards a &ldquo;second report&rdquo;

This article represents a study in progress &mdash; first thoughts, for a second report following up on my 2016 baseline. Then, the evidence showed a prosecution system plagued by dependence on eyewitnesses, neglect of modern evidence, tangential litigation, fear, and weak institutional capacity. Today, as terrorism resurges, the pressing question is whether the rule of law response has evolved or stagnated, if Pakistan&rsquo;s criminal justice system has moved beyond the structural weaknesses identified nearly a decade ago, or whether the same challenges &mdash; unaddressed &mdash; continue to compromise terrorism prosecution. Kudos to the policymakers who have made it happen if things have moved forwards, and a moment of introspection, almost a decade later, if they have not.

&nbsp;

Manzar Zaidi is a security consultant and academic

All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Tit-for-tat? India names Canadian official in terror case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2503908/tit-for-tat-india-names-canadian-official-in-terror-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2503908/tit-for-tat-india-names-canadian-official-in-terror-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Oct 24 06:45:17 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Canadian border official reported to be a member of banned organisation and is accused of promoting terror activities.]]>
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				<![CDATA[In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, New Delhi has named a Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) official, Sandeep Singh Sidhu, in a terror case linked to Punjab militancy.

Sidhu, reportedly a member of the banned International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), has been accused of promoting terrorist activities in the Indian state of Punjab, further aggravating the already strained relations between the two nations.

According to reports, Sidhu is allegedly connected to Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode and other operatives.

He is accused of being involved in the assassination of Balwinder Singh Sandhu in 2020.

Sandhu, a Shaurya Chakra awardee, was a prominent figure in the fight against Khalistani separatists during Punjab&rsquo;s insurgency and opposed the Khalistan referendums conducted by groups like Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in Canada and the US.

This development comes after Canada&rsquo;s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) named Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other Indian diplomats as persons of interest in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The Nijjar case, which emerged in 2023, has been a major flashpoint in the deteriorating India-Canada relationship, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accusing India of involvement in Nijjar&rsquo;s murder.

India&rsquo;s inclusion of Sidhu on its list of fugitive terrorists is viewed as a tit-for-tat response to Canada&rsquo;s expulsion of six Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner Verma, over the Nijjar assassination allegations.

In return, India expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats and suspended visa services for Canadian citizens.

The strained relations stem from long-standing disagreements over Canada&#39;s handling of pro-Khalistan elements within its Sikh diaspora.

India has repeatedly accused Canada of providing a safe haven for Khalistani separatists, who it considers a threat to its national security.

Canadian authorities, on the other hand, emphasize the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, core democratic values in the country, even as they acknowledge the diplomatic tensions arising from these divergent views.

At the heart of the diplomatic crisis is the broader issue of transnational repression.

India has been accused of targeting pro-Khalistan activists on foreign soil, with Canada and the United States both publicly criticizing such actions as violations of sovereignty.

Previously, India criticized Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on October 17, calling his handling of the diplomatic crisis following the 2023 killing of a Sikh separatist &quot;cavalier.&quot;

This comes as tensions between the two nations remain high after Canada accused India of orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist and Canadian citizen, near Vancouver in June 2023.

In response, India and Canada expelled six diplomats each in a tit-for-tat move.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), investigating Nijjar&#39;s murder, linked Indian agents to the crime, also involving the Bishnoi group, a criminal gang accused of murder and extortion in India.

Despite similar accusations from the US in a separate case, India&#39;s stance toward Canada remains defiant.

The assassination of Nijjar, in particular, prompted Canada to go public with its allegations against Indian diplomats, a move that has further strained bilateral ties.

This latest development, with Sidhu&rsquo;s alleged involvement in promoting terrorism in Punjab, underscores the complexity of the India-Canada relationship, which has been deteriorating steadily over the past year.

Despite being strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region, the two countries remain at odds over the Khalistan issue, with no immediate resolution in sight.

As diplomatic tensions escalate, both sides are likely to continue their tit-for-tat actions, further complicating their relationship and affecting broader geopolitical and economic cooperation.]]>
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			<title>Daesh attack in Afghanistan kills more than a dozen civilians</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2495833/daesh-attack-in-afghanistan-kills-more-than-a-dozen-civilians</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2495833/daesh-attack-in-afghanistan-kills-more-than-a-dozen-civilians#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 13 Sep 24 06:19:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2495833</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Attack by terrorists primarily targeted Shia Hazaras who had gathered to welcome pilgrims returning from Karbala]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A attack by Daesh terrorists in central Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of several civilians, primarily targeting Shia Hazaras who had gathered to welcome pilgrims returning from Karbala, a significant Shia&nbsp;holy site in Iraq.

The attack took place in the Karyudal area, located on the border between Daykundi and Ghor provinces on Thursday.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the group, killing at least 14 people and injuring four others, according to local sources. The Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attackers reportedly stopped a bus carrying the victims and, under the guise of taking photographs, opened fire on them.

The victims were residents of Daykundi province&rsquo;s Sang Takht district, who had traveled to meet relatives returning from the Arbaeen pilgrimage, a significant event in Shia Islam commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.

Though attacks in Afghanistan have decreased since the Taliban&rsquo;s takeover in 2021, Daesh-Khorasan, the Afghanistan branch of the terrorist group, continues to pose a significant threat, particularly targeting the Shiite community.

Despite the Taliban government&rsquo;s efforts to downplay the group&#39;s influence, recent attacks, including a suicide bombing in Kabul earlier this month, highlight the ongoing security challenges in the region.]]>
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			<title>CTD apprehends three terrorists during 78 IBOs conducted in Punjab</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2485202/ctd-apprehends-three-terrorists-during-78-ibos-conducted-in-punjab</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2485202/ctd-apprehends-three-terrorists-during-78-ibos-conducted-in-punjab#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 03 Aug 24 07:14:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2485202</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[A ring leader of the Daesh terrorist group was apprehended in Faisalabad along with two other terrorists.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), responding to the emerging security situation in the country,&nbsp;has carried out 78 intelligence-based operations across Faisalabad, Jhelum, and Chakwal, resulting in the arrest of three terrorists.

A key operative of the Daesh terrorist group was apprehended in Faisalabad along with two other terrorists who were identified as Abdul Wahab, Saifullah, and Khurram Abbas.

A CTD spokesperson stated that explosive materials, including three detonators, an eight-foot safety fuse wire, two IED bombs, ammunition, weapons, mobile phones, and cash, were recovered from the terrorists.

Officials reported that the terrorists intended to carry out attacks at various locations to spread fear and panic among the public.

Read Pakistan formally bans Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, Majid Brigade

This week, during 952 combing operations, 506 suspects were arrested, with a total of 32,056 individuals questioned during these operations.

According to the figures provided by the Ministry of Interior reported that Pakistan recorded 2,075 incidents of terrorism over the past 16 months, resulting in 1,215 deaths and 2,600 injuries.

The data paints a grim picture of escalating violence, with significant casualties reported across multiple provinces.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) bore the brunt of most of the violence, with 1,140 incidents leading to 756 deaths and 1,786 injuries. Balochistan reported 626 incidents, resulting in 423 fatalities and 734 injuries.]]>
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			<title>At least 1,215 Pakistanis killed in more than 2,000 terrorism incidents in 16 months</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2484980/at-least-1215-pakistanis-killed-in-more-than-2000-terrorism-incidents-in-16-months</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2484980/at-least-1215-pakistanis-killed-in-more-than-2000-terrorism-incidents-in-16-months#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 02 Aug 24 10:07:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2484980</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ministry revealed that in 2023 alone, 930 people were killed and 2,000 were injured in terrorist attacks]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan recorded&nbsp;2,075 incidents of terrorism over&nbsp;the past 16 months, resulting in 1,215 deaths and 2,600 injuries, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Interior.

The Ministry presented these details to the National Assembly, revealing that in 2023 alone, 930 people were killed and 2,000 were injured in terrorist attacks.

In just the first four months of the current year, 285 individuals lost their lives, and 600 were injured.

The data paints a grim picture of escalating violence, with significant casualties reported across multiple provinces.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) bore the brunt of most of the violence, with 1,140 incidents leading to 756 deaths and 1,786 injuries. Balochistan reported 626 incidents, resulting in 423 fatalities and 734 injuries.

Sindh experienced 19 terrorist incidents, with 14 people killed and 36 injured over the 16-month period.

Meanwhile, Punjab witnessed eight attacks, causing 12 deaths and 11 injuries. On the other hand&nbsp;Gilgit-Baltistan reported three incidents, resulting in nine fatalities and 26 injuries.

The Ministry attributed the rise in terrorist activities to several factors, including increased cross-border support for terrorist organizations and the strategic use of cyberspace to expand their reach.

The withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan has also been cited as a key factor contributing to the rise in violence.

The Ministry further informed the Assembly that, in response to the escalating threat, security forces conducted 2,208 intelligence-based operations in the first quarter of this year.

These efforts resulted in the elimination of 89 terrorists and the arrest of 328 individuals.

Additionally, a draft for the National Policy for Countering Violence and Extremism has been prepared and is awaiting cabinet approval, signaling a proactive approach to tackling the growing menace of terrorism.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan labels TTP as 'Fitna al-Khawarij' to expose its true ideology</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2484659/pakistan-labels-ttp-as-fitna-al-khawarij-to-expose-its-true-ideology</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2484659/pakistan-labels-ttp-as-fitna-al-khawarij-to-expose-its-true-ideology#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Aug 24 06:43:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2484659</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Government's new anti-terrorism tactics expose the true motives of terror groups.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[In a significant move against terrorism, the Pakistani government has officially declared the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as &quot;Fitna al-Khawarij,&quot; according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior.

This strategic decision aims to highlight the true nature and ideology of the TTP, exposing their misrepresentation of Islam.

The Ministry of Interior&rsquo;s notification emphasises that the terror group has severely distorted the image of Islam under the guise of religion.



&nbsp;

The term &ldquo;Khariji&rdquo; will now be used alongside the names of these terrorists to expose their true identity.

Additionally, the use of religious titles such as &#39;Mufti&#39; and &#39;Hafiz&#39; for individuals associated with terrorist organisations is prohibited, with &ldquo;Khariji&rdquo; being prefixed to their names instead.

This rebranding of the TTP reflects the government&#39;s commitment to combating terrorism by delegitimising their ideology.

The Ministry has directed all government institutions to implement this directive immediately, requiring the use of the term &quot;Fitna al-Khawarij&quot; in all official correspondence.

As part of its broader anti-terrorism efforts, the government has also banned two more militant groups: the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group (HGBG) and Majeed Brigade (MB), bringing the total number of proscribed organisations to 81.

The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has updated its list of banned organizations following the Ministry&#39;s decision.

The rebranding of TTP and the proscription of additional groups aim to strengthen the country&#39;s stance against terrorism, exposing the real motives behind these organisations.

The government seeks to cut off support for the TTP and its associates, emphasizing that they have no genuine interest in Islam and are involved in various criminal activities against the state and its people.]]>
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			<title>PTI’s Raoof Hasan handed over to CTD after being arrested in terrorism case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2484475/ptis-raoof-hasan-handed-over-to-ctd-after-being-arrested-in-terrorism-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2484475/ptis-raoof-hasan-handed-over-to-ctd-after-being-arrested-in-terrorism-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 31 Jul 24 10:57:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2484475</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[ATC grants a two-day physical remand of PTI's spokesperson to the CTD]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Raoof Hasan has also been arrested in connection with a terrorism case. The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad has granted a two-day physical remand to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

According to Express News, Hasan&#39;s arrest came following the statement of Ahmed Janjua. The CTD presented Hasan before the ATC, where Judge Tahir Abbas Supra presided over the hearing. Hasan&rsquo;s lawyer, Ali Bukhari, represented him in court.

During the hearing, Judge Supra inquired if Hasan had undergone a medical examination, to which Hasan confirmed he had. Despite medical issues, Hasan was shifted to jail.

Bukhari argued that Hasan was placed on judicial remand by the FIA the previous day and questioned the timing of the CTD&#39;s arrest. The prosecution clarified that Hasan was included in the investigation yesterday, but the formal arrest was made today.

The judge noted that the supplementary report from July 30 indicated Hasan was included in the investigation from the court premises. Bukhari contended that this implied Hasan was effectively arrested yesterday and highlighted that Hasan had been in FIA custody for the past eight days.

He also pointed out that PTI leader was not named in the FIR but was arrested based on Janjua&rsquo;s statement, alleging that Hasan had given Janjua Rs300,000 to incite terror. Bukhari argued that a physical remand was unnecessary for recovering the money.

Bukhari further noted that the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court had previously ordered the return of 32 individuals&#39; mobile phones. Hasan&rsquo;s mobile phone and laptop remain with the FIA, which had led to his judicial remand.

The court asked the CTD to justify the need for a physical remand. The prosecutor stated they needed to investigate the names of those who supplied explosive materials and apprehend them.

Subsequently, the court granted a two-day physical remand of Raoof Hasan to the CTD.]]>
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			<title>Austria dismantles IS-linked terror network</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2483635/austria-dismantles-is-linked-terror-network</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2483635/austria-dismantles-is-linked-terror-network#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jul 24 11:17:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[xinhua.]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2483635</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Austrian security forces conduct house searches in five federal states, seizE mobile phones, laptop and cash]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Austrian authorities have dismantled a terrorist network involved in raising funds for the Islamic State (IS) organization and arrested nine suspects, the country&#39;s interior ministry said on Saturday.

Austrian security forces conducted house searches in five federal states on Thursday, seizing mobile phones, laptops, data storage devices, a significant amount of cash, and a vehicle, according to the ministry.

All nine suspects, aged between 23 and 36, are of Chechen descent. The ministry noted that the suspects, all long-time IS supporters, have cooperated with IS sympathizers in Germany and other European countries]]>
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			<title>$101 million in US aid for Pakistan sought by Biden administration</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2482467/101-million-in-us-aid-for-pakistan-sought-by-biden-administration</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2482467/101-million-in-us-aid-for-pakistan-sought-by-biden-administration#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jul 24 06:52:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2482467</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Funds aim to stabilise Pakistan’s economy and combat terrorism]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Biden administration has requested $101 million in aid for Pakistan to combat terrorism, support economic reforms, and provide debt relief, US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu, announced on Tuesday.

Speaking before a subcommittee of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Lu emphasised that the aid aims to stabilise Pakistan&#39;s economy and uphold democracy and human rights.

This comes amid ongoing financial struggles in Pakistan, despite securing a 37-month International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

Lu, previously accused by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan of involvement in his government&#39;s ousting, stated that the funds would also help support economic reforms.

The financial assistance seeks to build on the recent IMF agreement that introduced increased taxes on agricultural incomes and aimed to reduce the recurrent deficit.

The IMF deal sets a challenging target, with the highest effective tax rate potentially rising to 45% from the current 15%, starting in 2025. Brokerage firm JS Global termed this move &quot;unprecedented.&quot;

In his testimony, Lu also expressed concern over the rights of women and minority groups in Afghanistan, stressing that normalisation of relations with the Taliban government hinges on the respect of Afghan citizens&#39; rights.

He demanded the release of all American prisoners held by the Taliban.

Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, Washington has provided over $17.9 billion in aid to the country, maintaining its position as the largest donor.]]>
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			<title>President Zardari vows to eliminate terrorism following Bannu attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2480540/president-zardari-vows-to-eliminate-terrorism-following-bannu-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2480540/president-zardari-vows-to-eliminate-terrorism-following-bannu-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jul 24 14:11:12 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2480540</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He expressed pride in the security forces, acknowledging their sacrifice and commitment to protecting the country]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment and honoured the bravery of the soldiers who thwarted the assault.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, President Zardari paid tribute to the eight soldiers who were martyred in the attack, recognising their swift action that prevented greater loss. He expressed pride in the nation&#39;s security forces, acknowledging their sacrifice and commitment to protecting the country.

The president reiterated the nation&#39;s determination to eliminate those involved in such heinous acts, offering prayers for the martyrs and seeking patience for their grieving families.

The Bannu Cantonment attack occurred early this week when ten terrorists targeted the facility. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the attackers detonated an explosive-laden vehicle against the perimeter wall, causing significant damage and resulting in the deaths of eight soldiers.

Also Read: US condoles Bannu terror attack, vows continued cooperation with Pakistan

The fallen heroes included Naib Subedar Muhammad Shehzad, Havildar Zil-e-Hussain, Havildar Shahzad Ahmed, Sepoy Ashfaq Hussain Khan, Sepoy Sobhan Majeed, Sepoy Imtiaz Khan, Sepoy Arsalan Aslam of the Pakistan Army, and Lance Naik Sabz Ali of the Frontier Constabulary.

ISPR reported that Pakistani troops effectively engaged the terrorists, killing all ten assailants during the operation. The timely response by the security forces averted a major catastrophe, saving many lives. The attack was attributed to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, operating from Afghanistan.

Pakistan has consistently urged the Afghan government to prevent the use of its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan. The incident comes amid an increase in terrorist activities in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the end of a ceasefire between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in November 2022.]]>
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			<title>Canada charges Syrian returnee with terrorism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2477363/canada-charges-syrian-returnee-with-terrorism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2477363/canada-charges-syrian-returnee-with-terrorism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jul 24 05:57:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2477363</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kimberly Polman, 51, charged with two counts of leaving Canada to participate in terrorist group activities]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Canadian police said on Saturday they had charged a returnee from Syria with terrorism-related offenses after an investigation into allegations that she had gone to join the Islamic State group.

Kimberly Polman, 51, was charged with two counts of leaving Canada to participate in the activity of a terrorist group and participation in the activity of a terrorist group, the police said in a statement.

The charges under Section 83 of the Criminal Code stem from the investigation into the allegations Polman traveled to Syria from Canada in 2015 to join ISIS, police said.

She was&nbsp;repatriated to Canada&nbsp;in 2022 but not charged criminally, her lawyer said at the time.]]>
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			<title>Kabul warns of reprisal to cross-border operation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475302/kabul-warns-of-reprisal-to-cross-border-operation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2475302/kabul-warns-of-reprisal-to-cross-border-operation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 30 Jun 24 01:17:41 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2475302</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Islamabad accuses Kabul of providing bases for TTP militants who carry out attacks in Pakistan]]>
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				<![CDATA[Afghanistan has strongly reacted to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif&rsquo;s recent statement threatening Kabul with sending troops across the border to target militants, warning Islamabad of &ldquo;consequences.&rdquo;

In a statement, interim Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarizmi called Khawaja Asif&rsquo;s statement irresponsible and an attempt to &ldquo;muddy the waters.&rdquo;

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s necessary for the leadership of Pakistan not to allow anyone to make such sensitive statement on sensitive issues,&rdquo; Khwarizmi said on X, adding that such remarks will not be in the interest of anyone.

&ldquo;Anyone who violates our border under any pretext will be responsible for the consequences,&rdquo; he warned.

In a recent interview with Voice of America, the defence minister accused the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of carrying out attacks inside the country, claiming that the terrorist organisation&rsquo;s leadership is hiding in Afghanistan and threatening Islamabad with cross-border strikes to eliminate them.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid called on Pakistani officials to refrain from making such statements about Afghanistan.

&ldquo;Pakistani officials should be cautious in their statements. They should avoid expressing sensitive issues that lead to tension. We will never allow anyone to invade or disrespect Afghanistan&rsquo;s territory,&rdquo; he said.

Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Friday said Islamabad respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.

&ldquo;Pakistan has always said that we respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, and in that context, it is critical that Afghanistan takes effective action against those terrorist groups which are responsible for terror incidents and attacks inside Pakistan,&rdquo; Baloch stressed during a weekly press briefing in Islamabad.

&ldquo;We have also urged Afghanistan to ensure that any terror hideouts that destabilise the region should be eliminated, and we expect Afghanistan to fulfil the commitments that it has made to the international community and Pakistan specifically,&rdquo; she added.

Islamabad accuses Kabul of providing bases for TTP militants who carry out attacks in Pakistan, a charge that Afghanistan denies.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>US expresses support for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474098/us-expresses-support-for-operation-azm-e-istehkam</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474098/us-expresses-support-for-operation-azm-e-istehkam#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jun 24 05:04:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2474098</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[We support Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure security of its citizens, State Dept says]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller affirmed on Wednesday support to Pakistan from the United States in efforts to combat terrorism.

&quot;Pakistani people have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks. No country should have to suffer such acts of terror. The United States and Pakistan have a shared interest in combating threats to regional security. We support Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and protection of human rights, and our partnership with Pakistan on security issues includes our high-level counterterrorism dialogue, including funding robust counterterrorism capacity-building programs and supporting a series of US-Pakistan military-to-military engagements,&quot; he said during a media briefing when asked about the new operation in Pakistan and the US reaction to its announcement

Miller was also questioned about the mob lynching incident in Swat when a man was dragged out from a police station on blasphemy allegations and burned to death.







Miller replied that the US is deeply troubled by the recent reports adding our heartfelt sympathies go out to the victim&#39;s family, and we hope for a swift recovery for those injured in the mob violence.

He added any form of violence or intimidation against individuals is unacceptable, and we stand firmly against blasphemy laws worldwide, including in Pakistan.

Such laws pose a threat to basic human rights and freedoms, particularly the freedom to practice one&#39;s religion or beliefs, said Miller.

The spokesperson was also inquired about his views on the incident in Punjab province when the police force destroyed 17 graves of a minority community under pressure from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Miller emphasised the US&#39;s ongoing call for Pakistani authorities to uphold the human rights and essential freedoms of all individuals, a message we consistently convey both publicly and in private communications. This commitment encompasses the freedoms of religion, expression, association, and peaceful assembly, he added.

On a different question about Pakistan remaining on the CPC list for several years, Miller said &ldquo;We consistently discuss human rights matters with our counterparts in Pakistan, focusing particularly on religious freedom and the treatment of religious minorities.&rdquo;

He added these concerns are articulated not only through Pakistan&#39;s designation as a Country of Particular Concern but also in the Department&#39;s annual reports on International Religious Freedom and Human Rights Practices.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Pakistan urges UNSC to decisively act against terrorism in Afghanistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2473043/pakistan-urges-unsc-to-decisively-act-against-terrorism-in-afghanistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2473043/pakistan-urges-unsc-to-decisively-act-against-terrorism-in-afghanistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jun 24 07:17:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2473043</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ambassador Munir Akram highlights how terrorist groups like the TTP operate with impunity in Afghanistan]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan&#39;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Munir Akram has called for decisive action against terrorism in the region while speaking at UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

Adressing the event held in Qatar&#39;s Doha on Saturday, Ambassador Akram highlighted the dangers of allowing impunity for terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

He noted&nbsp;that despite progress by the Afghan Interim Government in combating Daesh (ISKP), several other terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), continue to operate freely.

He stressed that socio-economic development in Afghanistan cannot be achieved as long as these groups remain active.

&quot;The elimination of terrorism within and from Afghanistan remains the highest priority for the international community, Afghanistan&#39;s neighbours, and Afghanistan itself,&quot; stated Ambassador Akram.

Akram described the TTP as the most direct and serious threat to Pakistan, detailing the group&#39;s activities, which have resulted in hundreds of civilian and military casualties.

Despite Pakistan&#39;s repeated calls for action against the TTP, he pointed out that no significant measures have been taken by Afghanistan.

&ldquo;Unfortunately, despite promises, no meaningful action has been taken so far. TTP safe havens remain close to Pakistan&rsquo;s borders. Cross-border attacks have continued, including one by a TTP associate that killed several Chinese engineers working on the Dasu hydro power project,&rdquo; the Pakistani envoy told the 15-member Council.

Ambassador Akram urged the UN Security Council to press the Afghan Interim Government to sever ties with the TTP, prevent cross-border attacks against Pakistan, disarm TTP terrorists, and hand over TTP leaders to Pakistan.

He emphasised the need for a realistic roadmap for Afghanistan&#39;s normalisation and integration into the global community, reaffirming Pakistan&#39;s commitment to work at bilateral, regional, and international levels to achieve sustainable peace and development in Afghanistan.

Ambassador Akram also reminded the international community of its obligation to assist the 23 million Afghans in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

For its part, the Pakistani envoy said the international community is obliged to help the 23 million Afghans who need urgent aid and to take adequate measures to bolster Afghanistan&rsquo;s economy &mdash; including reviving the national banking system and restoring commercial activity.

The Taliban must also take steps to abide by its international obligations, he said, noting that &ldquo;the world remains concerned&rdquo; about restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan. &ldquo;These do not conform with international law or the tenets of Islam&rdquo;, he said, adding, &ldquo;The AIG (Afghan Interim Government) is expected to ensure the rights of women and girls to education, work and other human rights.&rdquo;

He stressed that reviving the Afghan economy and establishing pathways for sustained development are equally important.

&quot;Pakistan enjoys close ethnic, cultural, historic, and religious bonds with Afghanistan, and promoting peace there is a national compulsion for Pakistan,&quot; he concluded.

Opening the debate, Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), noted that the upcoming meeting in Doha, the third one in this format, is scheduled to take place in nine days and the Taliban have stated that they are preparing to attend.

&ldquo;We hope that in Doha, key stakeholders will convene around the table, speak to each other face to face, reinforce the principles underlining the consensus to engage, and agree on next steps to alleviate the uncertainties that face the Afghan people&rdquo;. But, she warned, Doha &ldquo;has generated significant expectations that cannot realistically be met in a single meeting&rdquo;.

While there is no substitute for engagement with Afghanistan, &ldquo;it cannot be repeated enough that this sort of engagement is not legitimisation or normalisation&rdquo;, Ms Otunbayeva added.

While the Taliban have maintained political stability, they continue to place severe restrictions on women, and there is little space for internal dissent.]]>
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			<title>Section 144 imposed across Punjab amid terror alert</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472834/section-144-imposed-across-punjab-amid-terror-alert</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472834/section-144-imposed-across-punjab-amid-terror-alert#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 24 09:29:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2472834</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Home department cites potential risks of terrorism targeting large public gatherings behind the move]]>
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				<![CDATA[The provincial government enforced Section 144 across Punjab on Friday&nbsp;for a week due to terrorism concerns.

The home department, in a statement, said that the&nbsp;ban had been imposed on public gatherings, rallies, sit-ins, and protests throughout the province until June 27.

The decision aims to uphold law and order, safeguard lives, and protect property, citing potential risks of terrorism targeting large public gatherings.

The statement said that authorities are committed to ensuring strict compliance with these regulations and have initiated efforts to inform the public accordingly.

The province witnessed similar restrictions in January when in response to security threats and concerns regarding the law and order situation during February 8 election campaigns, the Punjab government imposed Section 144 across Punjab.

The government&#39;s directive included a ban on the display and carrying of illegal weapons, even those with licenses, with an exception for law enforcement agencies.

Additionally, the practice of aerial firing had been strictly prohibited. A notification issued by the Punjab Home Secretary highlighted potential threats to law and order, public peace, and security during the election period.

Given the extensive political gatherings, rallies, and meetings expected across the province, concerns were raised about these events becoming vulnerable targets for potential acts of terrorism and mischief by miscreants.]]>
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			<title>At UN, Pakistan calls for disarming TTP</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472514/at-un-pakistan-calls-for-disarming-ttp</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2472514/at-un-pakistan-calls-for-disarming-ttp#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 24 23:07:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2472514</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Urges global drive against terrorist armament]]>
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				<![CDATA[A senior Pakistani diplomat has called for a &ldquo;concerted campaign&rdquo; to recover all weapons from terrorist groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which reportedly uses safe havens in Afghanistan to launch deadly cross-border attacks inside Pakistan.

&ldquo;Pakistan is particularly concerned at the acquisition and use of modern and sophisticated small arms by the terrorist groups such as TTP &mdash; a UN-listed terrorist organization,&rdquo; Ambassador Munir Akram said in remarks at the 4th Conference to review the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (UNPoA) on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW).

The 2001 UNPoA, which was backed by all member states, provides the framework for activities to counter the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Since then, the UN has worked to support the implementation of the UNPoA at national, regional, and international levels.

&ldquo;Terrorists and criminals do not manufacture these arms,&rdquo; the Pakistani envoy told delegates, pointing out they acquire them from illicit arms markets or receive them from entities that want to destabilize a particular region or country.

&ldquo;It is essential to investigate how terrorist groups and criminal organizations acquire such sophisticated weapons,&rdquo; Ambassador Akram said. &ldquo;It is the responsibility of all States and the UN to take measures to prevent illicit trade, transfer and diversion of these arms.&rdquo;

He also said that the illicit proliferation, excessive accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons continue to exacerbate conflicts, fuel terrorism, threaten peace and security and erode sustainable development, with hundreds of thousands of human lives lost each year, terrible suffering inflicted on civilians, and economies and societies devastated.

&ldquo;The evolving nature of conflicts and the advent of new technologies pose new challenges to combat the proliferation of increasingly lethal small arms &mdash; UAVs and drones,&rdquo; the Pakistani envoy said.

The UNPoA and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), he said, represent an enduring international consensus and agreed framework to address challenges associated with the unauthorized, illicit trade and trafficking in these arms.

In this regard, Ambassador Akram said the current review conference offers an important opportunity to assess progress, identify challenges, and chart the way forward.

Pakistan, he said, has strengthened its legislative frameworks, enhanced transfer controls, and implemented robust measures to prevent the diversion of SALW to unauthorized users, including safe and secure stockpile management, comprehensive marking, tracking and record keeping.

But Ambassador Akram said a supply-side approach alone to tackle the SALW challenges, adding, &ldquo;To reduce demand, more strenuous efforts and resources are required to resolve and end conflicts in various regions and sub-regions, end terrorist activities, and eliminate organized crime.&rdquo;

International assistance and cooperation to build national capacities in tracking and interdiction will be central to the implementation of the UNPoA, he said.

Opening the discussion, Izumi Nakamitsu, the head of our Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA), delivered remarks on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

In the remarks, the UN chief said the review conference arrives at a difficult and dangerous moment for humanity with global military expenditures on the rise. He added there is nothing &ldquo;small&rdquo; or &ldquo;light&rdquo; about the damage these weapons cause.]]>
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			<title>The alarm bells of terrorism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468767/the-alarm-bells-of-terrorism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2468767/the-alarm-bells-of-terrorism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 May 24 21:08:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Syed Akhtar Ali Shah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2468767</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Bombs targeting public places  widely considered as a reaction to Pakistan's Afghan policy]]>
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				<![CDATA[The alarm bells of terrorism in the country, particularly in K-P and Balochistan, are getting louder. 

Mere statistics &mdash; 245 terrorist attacks in the first quarter of 2024 &mdash; are not the real portrayal of the undercurrents of the terrorism. They have to be understood in totality, by analysing the dynamics of the problem. 

The monster of militancy has not grown overnight. Blaming the US-led war on terror, launched in the wake of 9/11, for the rise of terrorism in ex-Fata is like oversimplifying a problem that has local, national and international dimensions. Most of the events of today are rooted in history. 

Today, K-P is also suffering from the backlash of our Afghan policy from 1979 onwards. Bombs targeting public places were a common occurrence, widely considered as a reaction to our Afghan policy. The province remained subjected to sabotage acts till the fall of Dr Najeebullah government in 1996. With the emergence of Taliban though, the situation changed and the area observed relevant peace. But, elements within Afghanistan were active elsewhere. 

Our Afghan policy set in motion new actors imbued with the ideology of jihad. These non-state actors pursued jihad and in the process attracted nationals of all hues to their ranks with an aim to push back the erstwhile Soviet Union and bring down the communist regime in Afghanistan. On course, their ideological bond cemented further.

The installation of Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan resulted in a jihadist culture and militarisation of a segment of the Afghan society, which changed their philosophy and mindset. 

Come 9/11 and the world suddenly woke up to the reality of global jihadism. Thus, the US and NATO intervened in Afghanistan in 2001 to deal with the lethal combination of Al-Qaeda, Afghan Taliban and other groups within Pakistan and around. The US and allies withdrew in 2021, having largely incapacitated their adversaries. 

With the singing of Doha Agreement, many in Pakistan expected a new era of peace to usher in. But all such hopes were dashed, with TTP and other groups like IS-K, now operating from Afghanistan, started targeting Pakistan. Reports say these outfits are gaining strength in Afghanistan and to some extent in Pakistan. The US Institute of Peace has, for instance, warned that Afghanistan &ldquo;presents growing space for terrorist groups compared to the period before the U.S. withdrawal&rdquo;. The think tank observes that ISIS-K posed &ldquo;a rising threat with reach beyond the immediate region, greater than during the pre-withdrawal period,&rdquo; and the TTP &ldquo;has also returned as a regional security threat&rdquo; and that Al-Qaeda and its South Asia affiliate &ldquo;continue to maintain ties with and receive support&rdquo; from Afghanistan&rsquo;s Taliban rulers.

Expressing concern, State&rsquo;s Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel has warned the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for terrorists. He also reminded the Taliban regime of its obligation by stating that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan &mdash; coming in line with the February 2020 Doha Agreement &mdash; was contingent upon several guarantees from the Taliban, one of which was that the Taliban would not allow any group or individual to use Afghan soil to threaten the security of the US and its allies. 

Similar concerns reverberated at the recent SCO meeting where the Taliban rulers were told that the presence of international terrorist groups, based in Afghanistan, poses a serious threat to SCO member states.

Also, the US and Pakistan, during a recent interaction on counterterrorism, agreed to intensify their collaboration against terrorist organisations, including TTP and IS-K. Their joint communique focused on tackling &ldquo;the most pressing challenges to regional and global security&rdquo;. 

All reports are indicative of attempts on the part of terrorists to again turn the region &mdash; particularly Afghanistan and Pakistan &mdash; into a theatre of war. Thus, the situation demands greater engagement between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Also, the Taliban rulers need to ensure compliance with the terms of Doha Agreement on countering terrorism.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Major martyred in Zhob operation laid to rest</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2466670/major-martyred-in-zhob-operation-laid-to-rest</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2466670/major-martyred-in-zhob-operation-laid-to-rest#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 24 06:40:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2466670</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Funeral prayer held at Zhob Cantt; officer to be laid to rest in hometown of Mianwali with full military honours: ISPR]]>
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				<![CDATA[The funeral prayer of Major Babar Niazi, army officer&nbsp;martyred in the Zhob operation,&nbsp;was offered at Zhob Cantt, stated the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday.

In a statement, the country&#39;s armed forces assured of standing by the nation and being committed to defeating terrorists&#39; attempts to sabotage the peace and stability of the country.

&quot;The sacrifices of our brave sons strengthen our resolve to fight against the menace of terrorism.&nbsp; The war against terrorism will be fought till the scourge is uprooted from the motherland,&quot; the ISPR maintained.

Major Babar Niazi laid down his life while leading an intelligence-based operation in the Sambaza area of Balochistan&rsquo;s Zhob district that eliminated three terrorists, the army&rsquo;s media wing confirmed on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by the ISPR, the security forces conducted the operation in the general area of Sambaza, Zhob District. &ldquo;The engagement with the terrorists was intense, leading to the successful elimination of the threat.&rdquo;

The statement added that 36-year-old Major Niazi, a resident of Mianwali, fought gallantly while leading his troops from the front, paid the ultimate sacrifice, and embraced martyrdom during an intense exchange of fire.

Read Senior army commanders pay tribute to DI Khan martyrs

At the time of his martyrdom, Major Niazi was performing his duties in Frontier Corps Balochistan North. He has left behind a widow, a three-year-old son, and parents.

Senior military and civilian officers attended the funeral prayer. A large number of people&nbsp;and civil administration officers also paid their respects.

The army officer will be&nbsp;laid to rest with&nbsp;full military honors in his hometown.








President Zardari pays tribute

President Zardari commended the security forces for their successful operation in the Sambaza area of Zhob.

The president specifically honoured Major Niazi for his bravery, his services to the nation, and his spirit of patriotism. He highlighted the professional capabilities of the Pakistan Army and reiterated the commitment to completely eradicating terrorism from the country.

In his message, the president expressed his condolences to the martyr&#39;s family&nbsp;and prayed for them to have the patience and strength to bear the loss.

&quot;The sacrifices of our brave sons strengthen our resolve to fight against the scourge of terrorism,&quot; the president stated, affirming that the war against terrorism will continue until this menace is eradicated from the motherland.]]>
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			<title>Anti-smuggling ops trouble transporters</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2465311/anti-smuggling-ops-trouble-transporters</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2465311/anti-smuggling-ops-trouble-transporters#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 05 May 24 19:59:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2465311</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Balochistan CM vows balance amid security concerns]]>
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				<![CDATA[Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, emphasized that security forces at check posts would remain vigilant against human trafficking and terrorism while also addressing the challenges faced by transporters.

The CM expressed these views while talking to protesting transporters the other day.

He convened a meeting with a representative delegation of transporters to address their legitimate concerns. Against the backdrop of ongoing anti-trafficking operations and heightened security measures, the chief minister assured the transporters that their issues would be resolved effectively.

Highlighting the importance of maintaining law and order, the chief minister emphasized the continuation of anti-trafficking operations to combat illegal activities. 

He reiterated that while protests are constitutionally permissible, the blockade of highways is deemed illegal, and stringent actions will be taken if such actions persist, causing inconvenience to the public.

Chief Minister Bugti underscored the significance of joint check posts in ensuring security along transit routes. He reaffirmed that these check posts would remain operational, with clear directives given to the concerned authorities to avoid unnecessary delays for passenger buses.

In a bid to enhance passenger safety, the chief minister instructed the deployment of one security officer per passenger vehicle. This decision aims to bolster security measures and safeguard commuters traveling across the region.

Concluding the meeting, he assured the transporters of the government&rsquo;s commitment to addressing their grievances while maintaining law and order. With a focus on ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, the government remains steadfast in its efforts to uphold peace and stability in Balochistan.

On the other hand, the provincial government has decided to procure 500,000 tons of wheat under the wheat procurement policy 2024.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>Anti-smuggling operation on the cards in Balochistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464525/anti-smuggling-operation-on-the-cards-in-balochistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464525/anti-smuggling-operation-on-the-cards-in-balochistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 24 20:25:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Syed Ali Shah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2464525</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Apex body vows to combat terrorism]]>
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				<![CDATA[Balochistan&rsquo;s apex committee on Monday decided to improve governance, eradicate terrorism and combat smuggling.

The body&rsquo;s 16th meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and comprising top civil and military officials of the province, also reviewed the overall law and order situation of the province.

Central to the agenda were strategic measures aimed at addressing paramount concerns of law enforcement, border security and immigration management. The committee pledged to intensify anti-trafficking operations, fortified by robust administrative and legal frameworks.

Acknowledging the pivotal role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the committee reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ensuring security of the Chinese personnel and assets. It decided to strictly adhere to the stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs) to safeguard infrastructural vital to the development of the province.

The committee also decided to start large-scale operations aimed at preventing smuggling by removing administrative and legal loopholes. It was also decided to take effective measures with a view to stopping cross-border smuggling of sugar, fertiliser, petrol and diesel.

In the meeting, it was decided to prevent the smuggling of non-customs paid vehicles from the area bordering the neighboring countries.

Earlier, in the briefing presented by the home department the data of repatriation of illegal immigrants was presented. The meeting was told that as per the guidelines and decision of the federal government, the process of repatriation of more immigrants has been subjected to a fixed timeline.

On the occasion, Chief Minister Bugti said that a peaceful Balochistan was the guarantor of a stable Pakistan, adding that the fight against terrorism was not confined to the security forces and militants but it involves all of us, and we have to fight it collectively.

He said murderers of innocent people do not deserve any leniency and whoever has taken the gun will be dealt with iron hand. &ldquo;We will go to the house of every disgruntled Baloch, who has genuine reservations and we will try to address them.&rdquo;

The chief minister said that they were determining the positive direction for better governance, the fruits of good governance will start reaching the people in five to six months. &ldquo;Everyone has to play his role for the betterment of the province,&rdquo; he maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2024.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Suspected BLA terrorist arrested in operation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464391/suspected-bla-terrorist-arrested-in-operation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464391/suspected-bla-terrorist-arrested-in-operation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Apr 24 20:51:00 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2464391</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[South district DIG says suspects confessed to doing recce of targets for banned outfit]]>
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				<![CDATA[An intelligence agency has arrested three suspects, including a notorious terrorist who is accused of facilitating attacks on security forces in Balochistan, it was revealed on Sunday. The terrorist, identified as Meraj, alias Mama, is suspected to have been involved in several reconnaissance missions and acts of terrorism.

Meraj is said to be affiliated with the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which is responsible for most bloodshed in Balochistan. Meraj, who used to do recce for the banned outfit, had provided critical intelligence on sensitive installations to the BLA, which subsequently carried out attacks on security forces based on his information.

According to Asad Raza, the spokesman for DIG District South, Meraj has made startling disclosures during interrogation. He confessed to being involved in reconnaissance of a military convoy travelling from Turbat city to Gwadar in 2017. This recce helped BLA terrorists to orchestrate an ambush, resulting in the martyrdom of army personnel.

He also disclosed that the perpetrators of the Karachi Stock Exchange assault were members of the Majeed Brigade of BLA. Meraj&#39;s reconnaissance of a military camp situated within a school premises in Naseerabad district of Balochistan, preceded an attack that claimed the lives of several soldiers.

Meraj&#39;s activities were not confined to reconnaissance alone. He was also responsible for the targeted killing of four relatives of a senior official of a sensitive institution. Moreover, he orchestrated attacks on the Gwadar port and Pakistan Navy airport after conducting reconnaissance operations.

Two more suspected terrorists, identified as Abdul Wahab and Tamachi Khan, were apprehended in a separate operation. A pistol and a 12-bore revolver were recovered from them. They have been handed over to Kalakot police for further legal proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>CTD arrests ‘four key TTP men’ involved in Besham attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464455/ctd-arrests-four-key-ttp-men-involved-in-besham-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464455/ctd-arrests-four-key-ttp-men-involved-in-besham-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 24 09:57:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[ahtesham.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2464455</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Terms arrests 'big headway', claims mastermind confessed to involvement in attack]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have arrested on Monday four key operatives belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) involved in the Besham terror attack in which five Chinese nationals were killed last month.

On March 26, a vehicle-borne suicide bomber targeted a convoy escorting Chinese engineers in the remote Besham area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, killing six people, including the vehicle&rsquo;s driver.

The Chinese engineers were en route their camp in Dasu &ndash; the district headquarters of the Upper Kohistan district of K-P - from Islamabad. Their vehicle was hit by an explosive-laden vehicle, coming from the opposite direction, near Lahore Nala on the Karakoram Highway.

According to a Chinese Embassy statement, a Chinese company&rsquo;s bus, carrying staff working on the Dasu Hydropower Project, was hit by a terrorist attack at around 1pm. Malakand Deputy Inspector General Muhammad Ali Gandapur confirmed the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber.

The Chinese engineers&rsquo; vehicle was thrown off the mountainous road into a deep ravine by the impact of the blast. The security forces reached the spot, shut the strategic highway for traffic on both sides and launched an investigation.

CTD arrests

Terming the arrests as a &lsquo;big headway&rsquo;, the CTD K-P spokesperson in a statement identified the suspects as mastermind Adil Shehbaz, and Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi, Zahid Qureshi and Nazeer Hussain. All hail from district Mansehra.

The spokesperson said that &ldquo;terrorist Shehbaz has admitted to playing a pivotal role in the execution of the Besham attack&rdquo;.

He said action against the militants was taken after a joint investigation team (JIT) unearthed the terrorist network in assistance with all law enforcement agencies.

TTP hand confirmed

A week after the attack, the CTD confirmed that the terror attack was backed by the TTP. The report submitted stated that the authorities have nabbed the main facilitator who brought the suicide bomber from Afghanistan. It added that the explosives-laden vehicle was brought through Chaman to DaraZinda town in Dera Ismail Khan district for Rs0.25 million.

The CTD sources also said that the vehicle used was non-customs paid and was parked at a petrol station for a fee of Rs500 per day. Two facilitators were also arrested from Balochistan.

The report added that the CTD arrested over a dozen militants and facilitators of the Dasu suicide attack. Multiple raids have also been carried out to arrest the reported mastermind of the attack, Hazrat Bilal, who is also wanted in prior attacks on Chinese engineers.

China demands probe

The Chinese embassy and consulates general in Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist attack and urged Pakistani authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident and severely punish perpetrators.
In a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong and other officials, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the interior minister assured them that the government would hold a high-level and swift probe into the attack and take the culprits and their facilitators to task.

PM orders investigation

PM Shehbaz instructed a thorough joint investigation into the Bisham terrorist attack, utilising all state resources.

The prime minister said, &ldquo;Terrorism is a trans-national threat that has been instrumentalised by the enemies of Pakistan to stymie Pakistan&rsquo;s progress and development. The acts targeting Pakistan-China friendship are particularly aimed at creating mistrust between the two iron brothers.&rdquo;
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			<title>Evidence resurfaces of terrorists using leftover foreign weapons in Pakistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464057/evidence-resurfaces-of-terrorists-using-leftover-foreign-weapons-in-pakistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464057/evidence-resurfaces-of-terrorists-using-leftover-foreign-weapons-in-pakistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 24 08:34:11 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2464057</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pentagon says US delivered 427,300 weapons to Afghan military, of which 300,000 were left behind during withdrawal]]>
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				<![CDATA[Fresh evidence of &#39;foreign weapons&#39;, reportedly believed to have been transported from Afghanistan to Pakistan, has once again surfaced, adding to concerns over regional security and its purported link to an increase in terrorism within the country.

Pakistan&#39;s ongoing battle against terrorism, spanning two decades, has been exacerbated by the presence of weapons allegedly left by the United States in Afghanistan. This factor is believed to be responsible for the recent surge in terrorism in the country.

Since the beginning of the year, security forces have conducted a series of intelligence-based operations (IBO) in various districts, resulting in the elimination of several terrorists and the recovery of a cache of foreign weapons from them.

In Khyber district on April 24 to 25, a crucial operation took place targeting suspected terrorists.

The intense exchange of fire led to the killing of at least three militants, including prominent terrorist figures, Sohail, also known as Azmato, and Haji Gul alias Zarqawi.

Security forces also conducted an operation on April 22 and 23 in Balochistan&#39;s Pishin district. During the operation, three terrorists were killed while one was apprehended in an injured state, identified as an Afghan national.

Earlier this month, on April 6, security forces carried out an IBO in North Waziristan, resulting in the death of two terrorists.

Security forces confiscated a substantial quantity of weapons in recent operations. These include M16/A4 rifles, AK-47s, and other armaments.

Read Pakistan targets TTP hideouts inside Afghanistan

A foiled assault by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists on the Gwadar Port Authority Complex took place on March 20.

In the course of the attack, the terrorists utilized foreign weaponry, which was later seized by security forces in their response.

In January, security forces engaged in operations in various districts, targeting militants who were attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan.

In Zhob district, seven terrorists were killed on January 22, with weapons seized that included M16/A2 rifles and AK-47s.

As per the Pentagon, the US delivered a total of 427,300 combat weapons to the Afghan military. At least 300,000 of them were left behind at the time of the US forces&rsquo; withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

This has resulted in an increase in terrorism in the region during the last two years.

Between 2005 and 2021, the US provided $18.6 billion in equipment to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, the Pentagon said. After the US withdrawal, these weapons helped the TTP carry out cross-border terrorist attacks.

All these facts indicate that the Afghan regime is not only arming the TTP but also providing a haven to other terrorist organizations.

In response to recent terrorist incidents within Pakistan, the country has undertaken intelligence-driven anti-terror operations within Afghanistan. The operations targeted those responsible for attacks that claimed the lives of numerous civilian and law enforcement personnel.

Amidst the recent surge in terrorism, last month on March 20, the Prime Minister&#39;s Office (PMO) issued a statement declaring the premier&#39;s firm stance of zero tolerance towards any cross-border attacks.








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			<title>Govt mulls new initiatives to combat terrorism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464016/govt-mulls-new-initiatives-to-combat-terrorism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2464016/govt-mulls-new-initiatives-to-combat-terrorism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 24 05:09:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Rizwan Shahzad]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2464016</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Tarar tells NA review of NAP under way, while cabinet mulling over ‘National Counter Violent Extremism Policy’]]>
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				<![CDATA[The government was reviewing the National Action Plan (NAP), focusing on conducting intelligent-based operations (IBOs), while the federal cabinet was deliberating on a new policy document to deal with extremism and the rising incidents of terrorism in the country, the National Assembly was informed on Thursday.

The government&rsquo;s decision to review NAP came in the wake of recent attacks on the Chinese and other foreign nationals, almost a decade after the plan was enacted after the Army Public School (APS) carnage in 2014 in which more than 150 people, mostly minor students, were martyred.

After the APS attack, a national consensus was evolved to come down hard on terrorists.

Recently, the country had witnessed a surge in suicide attacks and terrorism incidents.

&ldquo;National Action Plan is being reviewed,&rdquo; Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told the National Assembly.

The information minister also revealed that a &ldquo;National Counter Violent Extremism Policy, 2024,&rdquo; was also being deliberated upon, emphasizing that currently, the federal cabinet was discussing it and likely to give its approval soon.

In addition, the minister said, the government was focusing on the IBOs to curb the menace of terrorism. Emphasizing that the government was fully active in eradicating terrorism, Tarar said that full cooperation was being extended to all the provincial governments in this regard.

Reiterating that capacity-building work has already started, Tarar said that the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) was also being improved. He added that complete cooperation was being extended to the provincial government.

In addition, the information minister continued, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also talked about the safe city network in Karachi, during his recent visit to the metropolis to deal with the rising incidents of snatching and killings.

The minister expressed the hope that the federal and provincial governments, as well as all the law-enforcement agencies, were working together and soon the people would see a decline in terrorism incidents.

He shared all these details in response to a calling-attention notice about the increase in incidents of suicide bombing in different parts of the country and the increase in the incidents of snatching, and gunshots in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Kashmore.

The minister said that the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government didn&rsquo;t hold any meetings to examine the implementation of NAP from 2018 to 2022. He recalled that a court had also inquired as to why no meetings were conducted during the PTI government&rsquo;s tenure.

He said that the situation in Afghanistan and the outlawed Baloch organizations also contributed to the current state of terrorism in the country. &ldquo;Negotiations were held with terrorists during the PTI regime,&rdquo; Tarar continued, &ldquo;the National Action Plan was stopped for talks with terrorists.&rdquo;

In response to the statement, Opposition Leader Omer Ayub raised the objection, saying that an in-camera session on the security situation was held in the assembly hall, where the military leadership came and briefed the lawmakers about security issues.

Ayub said that the issues were discussed before everyone but misinformation was now being spread. Ayb stressed that people belonging to the PTI had also rendered sacrifices, adding that the record shouldn&rsquo;t be distorted.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m responding to a question by MQM-P [Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan] lawmaker regarding the law and order situation,&rdquo; Tarar told the house. &ldquo;Security is a provincial subject but the federal government is and will be giving full support to the provinces.&rdquo;

About the announcement of compensation to the victims of these incidents, Tarar said that the federal government could not make such an announcement, because it would be an infringement on the provincial government&rsquo;s rights.

MQM-P&rsquo;s Syed Waseem Hussain then demanded the amendment to the 18th

Constitutional Amendment, &ldquo;if the minister has to answer that security is a provincial subject every time a question is raised&rdquo;.

Meanwhile, Ayub drew the interior minister&rsquo;s attention to the non-removal of the names of some members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and the provincial assemblies (MPAs) from the travel stop list, Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) and Black List (BL).

Responding to the calling-attention notice, Tarar, while revealing that 4,800 people were on the black list and 1,109 on the PNIL, asked the PTI &ndash; now SIC &ndash; lawmakers to provide a list of the names. However, the opposition lawmakers were of the view that the government had all the lists.

Tarar again insisted for a list. The opposition again insisted that the government should do it by itself. Seeing a cat-and-mouse game, which consumed roughly half an hour, the deputy speaker intervened, saying that he would ask his office to take out the list of PTI lawmakers and give it to the government.

The house will meet again on Friday.]]>
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			<title>K-P calls for talks to stamp out terrorism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463582/k-p-calls-for-talks-to-stamp-out-terrorism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463582/k-p-calls-for-talks-to-stamp-out-terrorism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 24 20:44:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[CM Gandapur says DI Khan, Tank turmoil could spread to Pindi and Islamabad]]>
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				<![CDATA[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has advocated for dialogue as a means to end terrorism plaguing the nation. Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, he emphasized that the ongoing conflict was not solely Pakistan&rsquo;s burden, highlighting the urgency to address the escalating crises in regions like DI Khan and Tank before they spread further to areas like Bhakar, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. 

Gandapur stressed that now is the time to decisively pursue negotiations to bring an end to the scourge of terrorism.

Adding to his concerns, Gandapur lamented the financial discrepancies faced by the province, stating that the Centre owed K-P a substantial sum under the net hydel profit category. 

&ldquo;The Centre owes us Rs1,510 billion under the head of net hydal profit,&rdquo; he explained.

He expressed frustration over what he perceived as baseless legal actions taken against PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

He also lamented that during Sunday&rsquo;s by-elections, PTI candidates were allegedly hindered from campaigning. 

Gandapur decried incidents of electoral irregularities, alleging that PTI candidates were unfairly obstructed while rival candidates from the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) received undue advantages.

He pointed out anomalies in voter turnout, particularly in Punjab, where he claimed that voter participation exceeded that of general elections in certain constituencies, raising suspicions of foul play. 

Gandapur cited instances of violence against PTI candidates in Punjab and highlighted the peculiar case of an independent candidate&rsquo;s victory in Bajaur, who allegedly benefitted from associating with Imran Khan&rsquo;s image. Despite these challenges, Gandapur asserted that PTI refrained from interfering in the election process.

&ldquo;Despite the fact that the Bajaur candidate was an independent one and he was up against a PTI candidate, we didn&rsquo;t stop him and people decided his fate,&rdquo; he shared.

&ldquo;Rehan Zeb was our friend and we respect his sacrifices. People voted for his brother and we accept the result and the decision of the general public,&rdquo; he added.

Regarding allegations of power theft in K-P, Gandapur revealed that negotiations with the federal government were hindered by unjust demands for FIR registrations against power consumers. 

He affirmed K-P&rsquo;s commitment to address power-related concerns but criticized the Centre&rsquo;s approach of precluding negotiations until FIRs were filed. 

K-P people are not power thieves instead PESCO officials are involved in the pilferage, he declared.

He assured that K-P&rsquo;s law enforcement was directed not to register FIRs against power consumers until negotiations were concluded.

Moreover, Gandapur raised concerns about the health of Bushra Bibi, wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, alleging that attempts to conduct medical tests were thwarted. 

He vowed to organize nationwide rallies to protest against perceived injustices and asserted the people&rsquo;s right to express their grievances peacefully.

&ldquo;I will hold rallies against poll rigging across the country and no one could stop me.&rdquo;

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2024.

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			<title>Bilawal seeks tripartite dialogue on terror</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463232/bilawal-seeks-tripartite-dialogue-on-terror</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463232/bilawal-seeks-tripartite-dialogue-on-terror#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 20 Apr 24 05:02:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2463232</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PPP chief accuses PTI of seeking NRO]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday demanded the government to initiate tripartite dialogue with neighbouring countries to curb the menace of re-surging terrorism.

&ldquo;The suicide attack in Karachi is a reminder that the menace of terrorism is once again rising in Pakistan. The federal and provincial governments will have to take action against terrorists and ensure to engage the neighbouring countries to take action against them,&rdquo; the PPP chief said while talking to the media outside the Parliament House.

The PPP chief said that as a foreign minister he had held a tripartite dialogue at the foreign ministry among the foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding, &ldquo;We should have similar efforts to eliminate terrorists.&rdquo;

Bilawal welcomed the action taken by the National Assembly speaker against opposition members over trying to disrupt the parliamentary proceedings.

He criticised the opposition lawmakers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying that PPP was not afraid of any &ldquo;forest monkeys&rdquo;, rather these people were afraid of an unarmed girl, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, therefore, they resorted to ruckus during her oath taking in the National Assembly.

&ldquo;The [Pakistan] Peoples Party is never afraid of such tactics. For three generations we have fought against dictators like Gen Zia and Gen Musharraf and have defeated them through democracy. We will still face them democratically,&rdquo; Bilawal said.

The PPP chief stressed that people&#39;s representatives should fulfill their responsibilities but regretted that the current the opposition did not want to play its due role in parliament. Instead, he added the opposition&rsquo;s objective was to take NRO &ndash; a reference to political amnesty granted by Gen Musharraf in 2007 &ndash; for their leader.

The PPP chief stressed that people&#39;s representatives should fulfill their responsibilities but regretted that the current the opposition did not want to play its due role in parliament. Instead, he added the opposition&rsquo;s objective was to take NRO &ndash; a reference to political amnesty granted by Gen Musharraf in 2007 &ndash; for their leader.

&ldquo;The opposition&#39;s style of protest was undemocratic. Their behavior undermined the sanctity of the house. Unfortunately, because of their behavior, the speaker was forced to suspend the membership of the two opposition members.&rdquo;

Bilawal praised the address of President Asif Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of the PPP, to the joint sitting of parliament on Thursday. &ldquo;The Peoples Party made history yesterday and President Zardari addressed the joint session for the record seventh time yesterday,&rdquo; he said.

&ldquo;President Zardari highlighted the issues, whose resolution is the need of the hour. President Zardari gave the message yesterday that we have to forge unity to solve the problems of Pakistan. We should think of the country instead of our political differences. We should think about this people.&rdquo;

When asked about Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman&rsquo;s announcement of protest in Sindh, Bilawal said that Fazl had been given a wrong impression by his party people that he lost the elections in Sindh because of rigging. &ldquo;He should protest in Dera Ismail and Peshawar and not in Sindh.&rdquo;]]>
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			<title>At least 10 terrorists killed in DI Khan, Panjgur IBOs: ISPR</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461855/at-least-10-terrorists-killed-in-di-khan-panjgur-ibos-ispr</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461855/at-least-10-terrorists-killed-in-di-khan-panjgur-ibos-ispr#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 06 Apr 24 07:11:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2461855</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Military's media wing says army determined to eradicate threat of terrorism from country]]>
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				<![CDATA[At least 10 terrorists were killed in separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Dera Ismail Khan and Pangur districts, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in statements on Saturday.

Security forces killed eight terrorists in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa&#39;s (K-P)&nbsp;DI Khan district.

The military&#39;s media wing said the terrorists were killed during an intense exchange of fire between them and the army personnel. Arms, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the terrorists&#39; possession.

As per the ISPR, the terrorists were engaged in various criminal activities, including attacks on security forces and the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians.

Following the operation, the military emphasized its determination to eradicate the threat of terrorism from the country.

Panjgur IBO

Two terrorists were killed in a separate IBO conducted by security forces in Balochistan&rsquo;s Panjgur district.

The killed terrorists were identified as Asad and Hasrat; a cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives was also recovered from their possession.

Read Terrorist killed in North Waziristan IBO

The ISPR stated that the men were &ldquo;actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as innocent civilians in the area&rdquo;.

In a statement, the military&rsquo;s media wing maintained, &ldquo;Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the Nation, remain determined to thwart attempts of sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan.&rdquo;

Last week,&nbsp;on March 26, the security forces killed at least four terrorists during another IBO in DI Khan.

The military&#39;s media wing identified the killed terrorists as Mustafa, Qismatullah, Islam ud Din.

&quot;The killed terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent civilians. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from killed terrorists,&quot; added the military&#39;s media wing.

The same day, the ISPR reported that a soldier of the Frontier Corps Balochistan was martyred and four terrorists were killed as security forces repulsed an attack on a naval base in Turbat.

The military&#39;s media wing said terrorists attempted to attack PNS Siddique in Turbat on the night of March 26. The attempt was foiled due to the &ldquo;swift and effective response by the troops ensuring the safety and security of personnel and assets&rdquo;.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most prominent of several separatist groups in Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement.

The martyred soldier was identified as 24-year-old Sepoy Noman Fareed from Muzaffargarh, serving with FC Balochistan.]]>
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			<title>Political fascism taking form of terror, says Maryam</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461795/political-fascism-taking-form-of-terror-says-maryam</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461795/political-fascism-taking-form-of-terror-says-maryam#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 24 18:51:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Punjab]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2461795</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Emphasises need to upgrade security apparatus in Apex Committee meeting]]>
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				<![CDATA[Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that political fascism has also taken the form of terrorism

She was chairing a meeting of the provincial Apex Committee to work out an effective strategy for the protection of Chinese nationals working on CPEC and other development projects and checking smuggling. &rdquo;We must use all resources at our disposal to ensure foolproof security of Chinese experts working on CPEC and other development projects in Punjab,&quot; the chief minister said.

She highlighted, &quot;We all are on the same page to face the challenge of terrorism, which has become a very complex warfare now.&ldquo;

She said the world recognised the usefulness of the National Action Plan but &quot;it has to be upgraded and made more effective after removing the existing loopholes&quot;.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, &quot;Terrorism has got different manifestations. Ending religious extremism and terrorism is a bigger challenge.&rdquo;

Also read: Nawaz not bowing out of politics: Maryam

She added, &rdquo;Political fascism has also taken the form of terrorism.&rdquo;/The whole world saw the results of political terrorism on May 9. A so-called political party did what the banned TTP could not do, she added.

She said that as a politician, despite going through bad situations and difficulties, she never even thought of an incident like May 9.

She added, &quot;Investors are reluctant to invest due to the uncertainty and volatility created by May 9 incidents.&rdquo; She declared eradication of terrorism essential for the economic recovery and national prosperity.&quot;

The chief minister informed the Apex Committee that it has been decided to set up checkpoints operational round the clock on the provincial borders to check terrorism and smuggling.

Read:&nbsp;Terrorism to end if Kabul shuts TTP havens: Asif

She said, &quot;We cannot keep the roads open for terrorists and smugglers.&ldquo;

The chief minister highlighted the need to offer a viable solution against brainwashing the youth through social media.

She said, &quot;A bill is being enacted to protect national interests on social media. The establishment of special speedy trial courts is also being mulled over to try crimes against women and children, electricity theft and environmental pollution.&rdquo;

Lahore Corps Commander Lieutenant General Syed Amir Raza acknowledged, &rdquo;Punjab is also facing another challenge of illegally residing foreigners.&rdquo;

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>CJCSC Gen Mirza calls on President Zardari</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461737/cjcsc-gen-mirza-calls-on-president-zardari</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461737/cjcsc-gen-mirza-calls-on-president-zardari#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Apr 24 08:24:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2461737</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Professional and security issues discussed during the meeting]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza called upon President Asif Ali Zardari and congratulated the president on assuming office, said a statement on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the meeting, the two also discussed professional and security issues.

Gen Shamshad provided a briefing to the president on the prevailing security landscape of the country, along with outlining the operational readiness of the armed forces.

Read CJCSC strengthens defence ties during visit to Saudi Arabia

&quot;The armed forces are fully equipped and prepared to effectively address both internal and external security challenges,&quot; affirmed the CJCSC.

In response, the president commended the pivotal role played by the armed forces in safeguarding national borders and contributing to the socio-economic progress of the country.

&quot;We are very confident that our security forces will successfully handle both internal and external security challenges,&quot; said the president.

The meeting also emphasised a unified commitment to eradicate terrorism through coordinated efforts and national collaboration, as per the statement.

Earlier this month, on March 7, Gen Shamshad met newly-elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the CJCSC congratulated the premier on assuming office and expressed good wishes.

On February 6, The CJCSC also undertook a official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in connection with the 2nd World Defence Show.

General Mirza met with His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, to discuss crucial strategic and security issues, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan snubs Taliban advice for talks with TTP</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461625/pakistan-snubs-taliban-advice-for-talks-with-ttp</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461625/pakistan-snubs-taliban-advice-for-talks-with-ttp#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Apr 24 10:50:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Kamran Yousaf]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2461625</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Islamabad asks Kabul to take action against terrorist outfits]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[&nbsp;

Pakistan on Thursday ruled out any possibility of talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) once again, saying Islamabad expects the interim Afghan government to take action against terrorist hideouts.

Speaking at her weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan had no plan to initiate negotiations with the TTP.

Her statement came a day after a senior Taliban member urged Pakistan and the TTP to restart talks. Afghanistan&#39;s Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Nabi Omari has advised Pakistan and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to resolve their issues through dialogue as the violence in Pakistan &quot;is spreading to Afghanistan&quot;.

Speaking at an event in Khost, Afghanistan&rsquo;s Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Nabi Omari said that Afghans had seen wars and revolutions. &quot;Wars and revolutions create widows, create orphans, destroy the country and the economy,&quot; Omari noted in an effort to justify the call for talks between Pakistan and the TTP.

He went on to warn Pakistan that if the country&rsquo;s army is a million or ten million, it is &quot;our experience that you cannot win this war&rdquo;. Referring to those fighting against Pakistan brothers, Omari said even if the TTP invokes jihad (holy war), the Afghan Taliban will not interfere.

At the same time, he also advised the TTP and its allied militant groups that &quot;even if they fight for 100 years, we have nothing to do with it&quot;. The fighting in Pakistan is creating problems for us and the flames are reaching Afghanistan.&quot;

Though Omari didn&rsquo;t say explicitly, the fact he spoke of the Afghan Taliban facing problems because of the TTP suggested that the terror outfit was operating from the neighbouring country. This was also for the first time any Taliban leader publicly admitted the pressure Kabul had been facing over the TTP issue.

Pakistan tried the peace process in the past at the request of Afghan Taliban. The process initially produced a ceasefire in exchange of Pakistan freeing TTP militants. However, talks collapsed after Pakistan realised that the TTP was using the process to regroup.

Since the change of army command, Pakistan has shut all the doors for talks with TTP. The Afghan Taliban on the other hand are still pushing for the talks. Observers believe that given the position taken by both the sides, the deadlock will continue to persist.

Read Pakistan&#39;s patience is wearing thin

On 18 March, Pakistan had to carry out strikes inside Afghanistan after months of frustration over Taliban&rsquo;s lack of action against the TTP. Sources said the cross-border strikes might be the last option but if terrorist attacks continue Pakistan would be compelled to exercise that option again.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan expected Afghan authorities to take urgent action against terrorist outfits and their leadership for the crimes they were committing and the terrorist incidents they were responsible for in Pakistan.

She further said that Pakistan remained committed to fighting against all terrorist outfits which had targeted Pakistan and the symbols of the Pakistan-China friendship.

She said that Afghanistan was discussed at the 19th regular meeting of the secretaries of the security councils of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held in Kazakhstan on April 3.

Secretary of the National Security Division, Waqar Ahmad, who led the Pakistan delegation at the SCO, warned about the &ldquo;far-reaching consequences about terrorists acts for the entire region and stressed the need for adopting a comprehensive approach to address the root causes,&rdquo; Baloch said.

&ldquo;He termed peaceful and stable Afghanistan a strategic imperative for regional prosperity and called upon SCO member states to follow a holistic policy and build broad convergences with SCO region to address multifaceted challenges confronting Afghanistan,&rdquo; Baloch said.]]>
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			<title>Terrorism to end if Kabul shuts TTP havens: Asif</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461339/terrorism-to-end-if-kabul-shuts-ttp-havens-asif</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461339/terrorism-to-end-if-kabul-shuts-ttp-havens-asif#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Apr 24 04:28:07 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Khalid Mahmood]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2461339</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Defence minister says leads found in probe into Bisham tragedy]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that Afghanistan was the source of recent wave terrorism in Pakistan, warning that this cycle would continue until Kabul shut down the training camps and safe havens of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) there.

Talking to journalists in the Parliament House, Asif said that he himself had visited Afghanistan with a delegation in the past and requested the Taliban leaders to stop terrorism in their neighbourhood.

However, he added, the solution presented by the Afghan side was not workable.

The minister stressed that the Pak-Afghan border should be the same as the other international borders around the world. &ldquo;People come to Pakistan from Afghanistan on visa and do business here,&rdquo; he said, adding that this international status of the border was not being respected by Afghanistan.

Asif reminded that Pakistan had allowed transit of goods from Afghanistan to India. &ldquo;We have fought wars and rendered sacrifices for Afghanistan. But with the ever-changing attitude of the Afghan government, our options for them are limited.&rdquo;

Responding to a question, Asif said that investigation in the Bisham tragedy &ndash; the killing of five chinese national in a suicide bombing last week, was ongoing. &ldquo;A Chinese investigation team has also joined and we have found some leads,&rdquo; he added.

When asked about the targets reportedly set for the government by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the minister replied that those target were being met, adding that it would take one and a half years to give relief to the people.

&ldquo;We have the means to provide relief to the people but tax cases worth Rs2,700 billion were pending in courts. Thousands of billions is being stolen in taxes, electricity, gas, if these things are corrected, the people will get relief,&rdquo; he added.

Responding to yet another question about Washington&rsquo;s opposition to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, he said: &ldquo;America should tell us about the alternate to Iranian gas. If a neighbour gives us gas at good price, then we have the right to buy it. America has to understand our economic situation.&rdquo;]]>
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			<title>Balochistan, K-P dominate violence landscape in first quarter: report</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461275/balochistan-k-p-dominate-violence-landscape-in-first-quarter-report</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461275/balochistan-k-p-dominate-violence-landscape-in-first-quarter-report#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 24 14:01:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Taha Jaffry]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2461275</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CRSS report indicates remaining regions were relatively peaceful, suffering less than 8% of all fatalities]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan witnessed a total of 432 violence-related fatalities and 370 injuries during the first quarter of 2024, stemming from 245 incidents of terror attacks and counter-terror operations, as revealed in a report released by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

The figure includes 281 fatalities among civilians and security forces personnel.



According to the report, the provinces of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan bore the brunt of this violence, accounting for over 92% of all fatalities and 86% of attacks during this period.

The surge in violence, particularly in Balochistan, highlights the escalating challenges faced by security forces in maintaining stability and safeguarding civilian lives, it added.

The report underscores significant regional variations in the intensity of violence, with K-P and Balochistan emerging as epicentres of conflict. While other regions experienced relative peace, with fatalities accounting for less than 8% of the total.

Balochistan experienced a staggering 96% surge in violence during the first quarter of 2024 and fatalities doubled from 91 to 178.

Similarly, Sindh witnessed a nearly 47% rise in violence, albeit with low fatalities. In contrast to the alarming escalation of violence in Balochistan and Sindh, K-P, Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) recorded significant decreases in violence during the same period.

K-P witnessed a notable 24% decline, signalling progress in the region&#39;s security situation. Likewise, Punjab and G-B saw substantial declines of 85% and 65%, respectively, offering hope for improved stability and peace in these areas. However, these positive trends must be sustained through continued vigilance and strategic interventions.



Despite the encouraging decrease in violence, G-B faced renewed security concerns, as evidenced by the terror threat alert issued by the G-B home minister. The recent suicide attack on Chinese engineers working on the Dasu Dam project in K-P serves as a sobering reminder of the persistent threat posed by banned militant groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

It&#39;s worth noting that last year, G-B had suffered the highest number of fatalities in a decade, with 17 lives lost.

The CRSS report highlights the disproportionate impact of violence on civilians and security forces personnel. Civilians and security officials suffered over 65% of all fatalities in nearly 200 terror attacks, compared to outlaws who suffered only 35% in around 48 counter-terror operations.

Among the victims, civilians emerged as the primary targets, bearing the brunt of violence with 154 fatalities, surpassing any other category of victims. This grim reality underscores the devastating impact of terrorism on innocent lives.



In the first quarter of 2024, civilians and security forces personnel accounted for over 65% of all fatalities in nearly 200 terror attacks, compared to outlaws who suffered only 35% in around 48 counter-terror operations. The staggering disparity between the number of attacks on civilians and security forces and the limited counter-terror operations against outlaws highlights the asymmetrical nature of the conflict, with innocent civilians disproportionately affected by terrorist violence.

Among the victims, civilians emerged as the primary targets, bearing the brunt of violence with 154 fatalities, surpassing any other category of victims. This grim reality underscores the devastating impact of terrorism on innocent lives.

Comparing the data from the first quarter of 2024 to the preceding quarter reveals a disturbing escalation in violence targeting civilians and security forces. While the combined fatalities of civilians and security officials surged by 17%, fatalities among outlaws, militants, and insurgents combined decreased by almost 15%.



Notably, there was a significant increase in the number of insurgent fatalities, skyrocketing by 215%, while militants&#39; fatalities decreased by approximately 33%.

Despite the prevalence of violence, militant organisations surprisingly claimed responsibility for less than 20% of the total casualties attributed to terrorism in the first quarter of the year.

Notably, prominent groups such as Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), Lashkar-e-Islami (LI), and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), known for their previous activities, refrained from claiming any acts of terrorism during this period.

Instead, groups like TTP and Da&rsquo;ish emerged as the primary claimants of responsibility, with a new militant group, Jabhat Ansar al-Mahdi Khorasan (JAMK), affiliating with the Gul Bahadur group, making its presence felt.

The absence of claims does not diminish the severity of the situation, as evidenced by the tragic loss of seven security officials, including high-ranking officers, in an unclaimed terror incident in North Waziristan.

Read also: Modern warfare tactics escalating terror threat in K-P

In contrast to the limited claims by militant groups, insurgent organisations such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch Raji Ajoi Sangar (BRAS), and Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) significantly contributed to the violence, claiming responsibility for 18 attacks. These groups targeted security and government installations, posing a persistent threat to stability in the region.

During the first quarter of 2024, there were eight instances of sectarian violence documented, affecting various religious groups, both Muslim and non-Muslim. Ahmadis suffered the most significant losses, with nine casualties, while three fatalities were reported among Shia Muslims as a result of the violence. Furthermore, a Sunni Muslim was also subjected to targeted violence.

The report highlights the complex challenges faced by security forces in combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of citizens. While there has been a notable decrease in violence in some regions, the resurgence of violence in others highlights the need for sustained efforts.]]>
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			<title>Sino-Pak interests and proxy terrorism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461007/sino-pak-interests-and-proxy-terrorism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2461007/sino-pak-interests-and-proxy-terrorism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Mar 24 21:18:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Imtiaz Gul]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2461007</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Our state institutions still talk of terrorism and refrain from openly talking of externally-driven proxy terrorism]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The deadly terror strike in Bisham on March 26 that claimed the lives of five Chinese citizens delivered yet another reminder on the grim circumstances that Pakistan faces. It took the number of direct attacks involving Chinese targets to at least 33 since the launch of CPEC.

A similar attack on a bust carrying workers of Dasu Hydropower Project in the same region in July 2021 had killed nine Chinese nationals.

This alarming situation calls for deep introspection here at home.

On March 17 President Asif Ali Zardari vowed to make the terrorists accountable for the blood of each martyred jawan after attending the funeral of Lt-Col Syed Kashif Ali and Capt Muhammad Ahmed Bader, who were among five other martyrs of an attack in Mir Ali in North Waziristan the same day. &ldquo;The blood of the sons of the soil would not go in vain,&rdquo; he said.

The President followed this up with another resolve on March 23. &ldquo;We will not tolerate any efforts by terrorists or any group to destabilise our country,&rdquo; he said in his speech at the main Pakistan Day ceremony in Islamabad.

Pakistan Army&rsquo;s top brass also issues such statements, often after corps commanders&rsquo; meetings to underscore its determination against terrorist threats.

Does such rhetoric fend off terrorist threat? Has it helped in any way at all? Certainly not. Four brazen attacks within 10 days &ndash; on March 17 in North Waziristan, March 20 Gwadar, March 25 Turbat, March 26 Bisham &ndash; underline the ever-evolving nature of the terrorist threat. These are among the 236 attacks this year until March 25 this year, causing at least 413 fatalities, mostly in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

This carnage has been going on for several years , even though the Frontier Corps now has four majors general in both provinces i.e. IG FC South Balochistan, IG FC North Balochistan, IG FC South KP and IG FC North KP. Despite the expansion of security forces, the incidence of terrorism has been on the rise since late 2022.

What is the clear lesson to be drawn?

Firstly, it is proxy terrorism, and no quest for sharia. Nor are any adjectives like &lsquo;coward&rsquo;, &lsquo;insensitive&rsquo;, &lsquo;infidels&rsquo; used for terrorists of any value because of the proxy nature of the challenge. Geopolitically-driven actors just move by the agenda, regardless of who comes their way.

Some of the instruments of this cold-blooded proxy terrorism include the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP), Ahrarul-Hind, Ansarul Jihad (AuJ), Majlis-e-Askari, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad, Jabhat al-Junud al-Mahdi (headed by Amir Sufiyan) and Hafiz Gul Bahdaur&rsquo;s Jabhat Ansar al-Mahdi Khorasan (JAMK), besides Jundullah, Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Sindhudesh People&rsquo;s Army.

They all claim to be vying for a caliphate, using Islam/sharia as a justification for their violent actions. But in reality they are agents of terrorism, instability and uncertainty. Franchises with different names on the same mission &ndash; of destabilising the region &ndash; threaten Pakistani interests, demoralise the security apparatus by pricking it here and there and scare Chinese economic engagement away from the region.

Any religious currency to these outfits amounts to naivety. The Bisham incident and the brazen attack on the Gwadar Port Authority Complex on March 20 leave little doubt on the intensions of this terror campaign.

Secondly, this proxy terrorism draws its oxygen from our neigbourhood and the border regions, where most of the terrorists associated with the aforementioned outfits had been sheltering. While Pakistan hunted out the proponents of the Haqqani Network and their Pakistani prot&eacute;g&eacute;s such as TTP from North Waziristan, the Afghan Taliban still appear to be reluctant in a head-on collision with TTP and its associates. By implication &ndash; even if the Afghan Taliban claim not to be supporting terrorist outfits &ndash; they do serve as the umbrella for many of the outfits based there including the TTP, ISKP, ETIM (ITP) and IMU remnants.

Thirdly, terrorist forces also draw legitimacy from our own clouded thinking about the phenomenon. Our state institutions still talk of terrorism and apparently refrain from openly talking of externally-driven proxy terrorism. All visiting foreign dignitaries do talk of TTP or ISKP as the biggest security threat to the region and their countries. But our leaders appear to have failed in convincingly asking them one simple question: what is their assessment of the terrorist campaign? Why would members of these rag-tag armed groups kill innocent unarmed Pakistanis and Chinese, and systematically attack security forces? What is their interest in spreading fear and a sense of instability?

Fourth, will our bigwigs introspect as to whether &ndash; despite the omnipresent proxy terrorist threat &ndash; lapses and shortcomings in the management of security, particularly for the Chinese nationals, have facilitated the continuous terrorist campaign. No surprise that the Chinese demanded a thorough investigation into the attack, punishment for the perpetrators and effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens.

Lastly, is the Pakistani leadership ready to finally realise and openly admit the proxy nature of the challenge both Pakistan and China are facing? A major step towards neturalising the challenge could perhaps be separating religion from politics. Strong messaging is required on the management of terrorism. Zero tolerance for any religious or religio-political group supportive of terrorist/militant outfits must be declared as the cardinal principle of new security policy. Ambiguity around militant outfits must make way for clarity on all those who represent a threat to the interests of Pakistan and its neighbours.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>PM orders ‘joint investigation’ into Bisham atrocity</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460682/pm-orders-joint-investigation-into-bisham-atrocity</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460682/pm-orders-joint-investigation-into-bisham-atrocity#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 24 07:24:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[APP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2460682</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Top civil, military leadership vows to bring perpetrators to justice swiftly]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday instructed for a thorough joint investigation into the Bisham terrorist attack targeting Chinese nationals at the Dasu hydropower project, utilising all state resources.

Offering deepest condolences to the victims&#39; families, he vowed swift justice for the perpetrators.

Chairing an emergency meeting following the attack, the prime minister praised the swift response of law enforcement and locals, which saved many lives.

The meeting was attended by the federal ministers, chief of the army staff, chief ministers, chief secretaries and inspector generals of police of respective provinces, a PM Office press release said.

The meeting discussed in detail the heinous attack on innocent civilians working on a development project, meant to contribute towards energy and water security of Pakistan.

The prime minister said, &ldquo;Terrorism is a trans-national threat that has been instrumentalised by the enemies of Pakistan to stymie Pakistan&rsquo;s progress and development. The acts targeting Pakistan-China friendship are particularly aimed at creating mistrust between the two iron brothers.&rdquo;

The participants of the meeting expressed resolute commitment to completely rooting out terrorism from the country.

Read PM Shehbaz likely to visit China amid renewed terror threat

The participants expressed serious concerns over sanctuaries available to terrorists across the borders and emphasised upon the need for a regional approach to counter terrorism.

During the meeting, the COAS reiterated the resolve of the armed forces to eliminate the scourge of terrorism afflicting the country.

The COAS stated that the nation had steadfastly fought the war on terror for the last two decades and had defeated the nefarious designs of Pakistan&rsquo;s adversaries.

Noting the recent surge in terrorist incidents, the COAS remarked that the enemies of Pakistan had once again underestimated the resilience and grit of the state and the people of Pakistan.







He said, &ldquo;We shall fight terrorism till every terrorist casting an evil eye on Pakistan, its people and their guests, is eliminated; we shall not leave any stone unturned to ensure that every foreign citizen, especially the Chinese nationals, contributing to the prosperity of Pakistan, is safe and secure in Pakistan. We shall fight terrorism with all our might, to the very end.&rdquo;

The meeting concluded with the participants reiterating the resolve to comprehensively combat terrorism employing all resources available to the state.

Later, addressing a news conference, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that the meeting had the consensus that an integrated strategy should be adopted to wipe out terrorism from this country.

Regarding the investigation of the incident, He disclosed that consultation was held on the establishment of a joint investigation team.

Tarar added that all possible steps will be taken for prevention of such incidents in the future. The minister said Pakistan had formulated a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for the security of Chinese citizens in the country. All the arrangements and steps were being taken to ensure security of all the Chinese working on CPEC and non-CPEC projects in the country.

The minister questioned the role of the PTI founder in promoting talks with terrorists and showing sympathy towards them. The minister asked why the apex committee meeting on national security was not convened by Imran Khan during his government&rsquo;s tenure.

The minister said that the government would like to take up the issue of terrorism in the upcoming session of the National Assembly.]]>
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			<title>We don’t want armed conflict with Afghanistan: Asif</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460041/we-dont-want-armed-conflict-with-afghanistan-asif</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2460041/we-dont-want-armed-conflict-with-afghanistan-asif#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 24 10:36:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[News Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2460041</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Defence minister says message needed to be sent that cross-border terrorism has become intolerable]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that Pakistan did not want any armed conflict with Afghanistan, but warned Kabul that Islamabad could block the corridor for its trade with India if it failed to curb anti-Pakistan terrorists operating from there.

In an interview with Voice of America (VoA), Asif highlighted a surge in terror attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in August 2021. He recalled that during a visit to Kabul last year he had advised Taliban not to let past &ldquo;favours&rdquo; from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) tie their hands.

&ldquo;Force is the last resort. We do not want to have an armed conflict with Afghanistan,&rdquo; Asif said, while speaking about the airstrikes on alleged terrorist hideouts across the border. He noted that a message needed to be sent that cross-border terrorism had become intolerable.

Pakistan carried out strikes inside the neighbouring country in response to a March 16 terrorist attack in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, in which seven Pakistani soldiers, including two officers, were martyred. the target of the operation was the terrorists, responsible for multiple terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

Read UN report reveals TTP set up new base in K-P

The minister stressed that Pakistan needed to convey to the rulers in Kabul that the current situation was untenable. &ldquo;If they [TTP] can harm us, then we&rsquo;ll be forced to [retaliate],&rdquo; Asif said.

However, he hoped Afghanistan would rein in the TTP, preventing the need for future military strikes from Pakistan.

Asif questioned the rationale behind providing trade corridor if Afghanistan treated Pakistan as an enemy. He cautioned that Pakistan could block this corridor it provides to Afghanistan for trade with India if Kabul failed to curb anti-Pakistan terrorists on its soil.

Responding to a question, Asif said that Kabul was allowing the TTP to operate against Pakistan to prevent its members from joining the Islamic State&rsquo;s (IS) local chapter, known as IS-Khorasan.

He referred to IS-KP as a major internal security threat for Afghanistan.

Despite China&rsquo;s silence on the cross-border fighting, Asif dismissed the notion of lack of public support from Beijing. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not necessary that the world must applaud us.

What is in our interest is enough for us. We are protecting our interest, irrespective of whether someone applauds us or not.&rdquo;]]>
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			<title>Zero tolerance for border attacks: PM</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2459949/zero-tolerance-for-border-attacks-pm</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2459949/zero-tolerance-for-border-attacks-pm#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Mar 24 11:03:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2459949</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[PM, cabinet members to forego salaries, perks]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made a resolute declaration on Wednesday, asserting zero tolerance towards any form of cross-border attacks, as stated in a press release from the PM Office.

&quot;We will unequivocally reject and respond firmly to any act of terrorism originating from across our borders,&quot; affirmed the prime minister during the inaugural session of the federal cabinet.

In response to recent terrorist incidents within Pakistan, the country undertook intelligence-driven anti-terror operations within Afghanistan. The operations targeted those responsible for attacks resulting in the loss of numerous civilian and law enforcement lives.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Sharif emphasised the imperative to prevent terrorist infiltration from neighbouring territories, reaffirming Pakistan&#39;s unwavering stance against such threats.

&quot;We aspire to foster peaceful coexistence with our neighbouring nations and seek to bolster trade and bilateral relations,&quot; added the prime minister, stressing the importance of regional cooperation in combating terrorism and addressing poverty.

He extended an invitation to neighbouring countries to collaborate in efforts aimed at eradicating terrorism and alleviating poverty, emphasising the shared responsibility in ensuring regional stability and prosperity.

On the deal with the International Monetary Fund, the prime minister told the cabinet that the country needed a new IMF loan, adding that increasing the tax base was mandatory for securing this deal.

Expressing resolve to streamline the country&rsquo;s economy by bringing strict reforms in all public departments, the prime minister said the government will adopt a zero-tolerance policy against power thieves, tax evaders and corrupt elements.

He said Rs 2.4 trillion worth of tax cases were currently pending either in tribunals or in courts which needed to be concluded as early as possible. &ldquo;I request the chief justice of Pakistan to help in early conclusion of all such sub-judice cases.&rdquo;

He said during his recent meetings with the diplomats of the friendly countries, he conveyed them that the government was eager to enhance bilateral relations with those countries in terms of trade and investment.

Read: PM vows to eliminate terrorism from country

The prime minister said the provinces should support the federal government to achieve its goals of bringing to a halt to power theft and tax evasion.

Meanwhile, the meeting took up different agenda items including the briefing on Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the constitution of PIA Holding Company and others.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and members of the federal cabinet decided to voluntarily forego their salaries and perks as part of the government&rsquo;s efforts to promote austerity.

Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb briefed the cabinet members on the Staff Level Agreement with the IMF. It was told that the agreement would help improve the national economy and boost the investors&rsquo; confidence.

As an important headway towards the PIA&rsquo;s privatisation, the cabinet approved the formation of the PIA Holding Company. The PM directed to further speed up the privatization process of PIA besides ensuring transparency in the process.

He also directed to formulate a committee with regard to outsourcing of the airports.

The cabinet, on the recommendation of the ministry of commerce, approved to form a committee for determining the exemption of bans regarding exports and imports. Federal Minister for Commerce would be the convener of the committee.

The committee would determine the said exemption under section 21 of the Trade Organizations Act 2013 and in this regard it would also hear the appeals.

Likewise, on the recommendation of interior ministry, the cabinet approved to send the recommendations of the federal commission established on the order of the Islamabad High Court regarding the arrest/detention of former member of the National

Assembly Dr. Shireen Mazari to the relevant federal and provincial authorities.

On the proposal of the Ministry of Law and Justice and the recommendation of the Sindh High Court Karachi, the cabinet approved the return of the services of District and Sessions Judge Ghulam Shah, who was working on deputation in Banking Court II, Hyderabad, to his department.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan targets TTP hideouts inside Afghanistan</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2459703/pakistan-targets-ttp-hideouts-inside-afghanistan</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2459703/pakistan-targets-ttp-hideouts-inside-afghanistan#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Mar 24 08:04:36 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[kamran.yousaf]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[FO says airstrikes hit Hafiz Gul Bahadur group]]>
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				<![CDATA[Accusing certain elements in the Taliban government for patronising the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates, Pakistan carried out what it termed &quot;intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations&quot; in the border regions inside Afghanistan on Monday, in a significant escalation in tensions between the two neighbours.

But a carefully worded statement did not specify the nature of operation or mention the air strikes.

Although, Pakistan did carry out air strikes in the past inside Afghanistan, notably in April 2022, this was the first time Islamabad officially acknowledged striking inside the neighbouring country.

The strikes were prompted by March 16 terrorist attack in Mir Ali, North Waziristan in which seven Pakistani soldiers including two officers were martyred. The attack seems to be a tipping point in the relationship that has remained on the edge for months.

A statement issued by the foreign office said target of the operation was the terrorists belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which along with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was responsible for multiple terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, resulting in deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials.

&quot;The latest attack took place on 16 March 2024 at a security post in Mir Ali in North Waziristan and claimed the lives of seven Pakistani soldiers,&quot; it added.

The statement explained as to why Pakistan was compelled to take that extreme step.

&quot;Over the past two years, Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed its serious concerns to the Interim Afghan Government over the presence of terror outfits including TTP inside Afghanistan. These terrorists pose a grave threat to Pakistan&rsquo;s security and have consistently used Afghan territory to launch terror attacks inside Pakistani territory,&quot; said the foreign office.

It said Pakistan accords prime importance to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.
&quot;It has, therefore, always prioritised dialogue and cooperation to confront the terrorist threat. We have repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete and effective action to ensure that the Afghan soil is not used as a staging ground for terrorism against Pakistan. We have also called on them to deny safe havens to TTP and to hand over its leadership to Pakistan.&quot;

The statement said while Pakistan has great respect for the people of Afghanistan but alleged that certain elements among those in power in Afghanistan were actively patronising TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistan.

&quot;Such an approach against a brotherly country, which stood with the people of Afghanistan through thick and thin, manifests shortsightedness. It ignores the support extended by Pakistan to the people of Afghanistan over the last several decades,&quot; it said.

&quot;We urge these elements in power to rethink the policy of siding with Khwarij terrorists shedding the blood of innocent Pakistanis and to make a clear choice to stand with the people of Pakistan,&quot; it demanded.

The statement said terrorist groups like TTP are a collective threat to regional peace and security.
&quot;We fully realise the challenge Afghan authorities face in combating the threat posed by TTP. Pakistan would therefore continue to work towards finding joint solutions in countering terrorism and to prevent any terrorist organization from sabotaging bilateral relations with Afghanistan,&quot; the statement concluded.

The Taliban government confirmed the strikes but rejected Pakistani claims that those attacks killed any militants.

Condemning the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, Zabiullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, claimed attacks killed five women and three children in the eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika.

&quot;The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory,&quot; Mujahid said in a statement.

Read Army officers, 5 soldiers martyred in Waziristan terror attack

&ldquo;Last night at around 3am, Pakistani planes bombed the houses of civilians,&rdquo; said the IEA spokesperson. He added that the bombings resulted in the deaths of six civilians, including three women and three children in Paktika, with an additional two women losing their lives due to the collapse of a house in Khost province.

The Paktika province is located near Pakistan&rsquo;s South Waziristan district while Khost is situated near North Waziristan. &quot;The person named Abdullah Shah, who the Pakistani side claims was targeted in the incident, is in Pakistan, on the other hand, there is a tribe living on both sides of this region who have daily trips and close relationships,&quot; claimed Mujahid.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistan&#39;s territory, said the Taliban spokesperson and warned that the interim government of Afghanistan, which has a &quot;long experience of freedom struggle against the superpowers of the world&quot;, does not allow anyone to &quot;invade its territory&quot;.

The spokesperson also urged the new government to stop the &quot;continuation&quot; of wrong policies which &quot;benefit others&quot; and spoil the relationship between the two nations.

Mujhahid warned of potentially dire consequences stemming from such incidents, cautioning that the repercussions could spiral beyond Pakistan&#39;s control, &ldquo;Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will be out of Pakistan&rsquo;s control,&quot; said the spokesperson.

Commander Niamt Khan, the TTP Karachi senior military operational Commander, also eliminated in the earlier stages of the strikes, in Birmal. The TTP yet to confirm his death.

Eight civilians were killed Monday in &quot;reckless&quot; air strikes by Pakistan&#39;s military in the border regions of Afghanistan, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate against Pakistani military outposts, Taliban officials said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft &quot;bombed civilian homes&quot; in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan at around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), adding that all of the dead were women and children.

Afghanistan&#39;s defence ministry said its border forces retaliated in response to the airstrikes, targeting Pakistan&#39;s military posts along the disputed border with &quot;heavy weapons&quot;.

Cross-border skirmishes in the region were reported by both sides on Monday, the latest in a string of incidents on the disputed frontier.

Malak Noor Khan, a tribal elder in the Sperah district of Khost, said he saw at least four explosives dropped from drones and jets and that multiple homes were destroyed, one with a woman and her children inside.

&quot;When the drone came first, we all, including women and children, left our homes and went into the trees on the mountainside, it was very cold as there was snow on the ground,&quot; he told AFP.

A local government official in Pakistan&#39;s border regions, who asked not to be identified, told AFP residents had been instructed to evacuate the area during the skirmishes.

A senior government official based in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, who asked not to be identified, told AFP that, despite repeated complaints, &quot;Afghanistan does not seem to be taking the matter seriously&quot;.

The Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement posted on X it had summoned the head of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul to protest against Monday&#39;s strikes.

It called on Pakistan&#39;s new government to &quot;not allow some circles to complicate the relationship between two neighbouring Muslim countries&quot; -- an apparent reference to certain Pakistani military leaders.

(With input from agencies)]]>
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			<title>Army officers, 5 soldiers martyred in Waziristan terror attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2459529/Six-terrorists-ram-a-vehicle-laden-with-explosives-into-check-post</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2459529/Six-terrorists-ram-a-vehicle-laden-with-explosives-into-check-post#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 24 09:39:01 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Six terrorists ram car bomb into post, follow up with multiple suicide bombings before being neutralized, says ISPR]]>
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				<![CDATA[A lieutenant colonel and a captain were among seven soldiers martyred in a terrorist attack in North Waziristan&#39;s Mir Ali, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated on Saturday. At least six terrorists were also killed in the attack.

As per the ISPR, troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion into the army installation in the wee hours of the day however, a group of six terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into it, later carrying out multiple suicide bombings.

The attacks led to the collapse of a portion of a building, resulting in the martyrdom of five brave soldiers.

The martyred soldiers included Havildar Sabir, a resident of district Khyber; Naik Khurshid, a resident of district Lakki Marwat; Sepoy Nasir, a resident of Peshawar; Sepoy Raja, a resident of Kohat; and Sepoy Sajjad, a resident of Abbottabad.

During the ensuing clearance operation, the Pakistan army troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali, engaged and gunned down all the six terrorists. However, 39-year-old Lt Col Ali, a resident of Karachi, and 23-year-old Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar, a resident of Talagang, embraced martyrdom.

The ISPR reported that the troops were engaged in a &quot;sanitization operation&quot; to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area.

The &quot;security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,&quot; the authority noted in its statement.

The funeral prayers of the martyrs took place in Bannu Cantt later in the evening.
According to the ISPR, the martyrs will receive full military honours during their burial in their respective native towns.

A significant presence of military and civil officials, including Major General Anjum Riaz, the General Officer Commanding, attended the funeral.

&quot;The Pakistan Army remains committed to sacrificing its lives until the last drop of blood in defence of our beloved motherland,&quot; the military&#39;s media wing stated.

In an attack in early February, at least 10 policemen including members of an elite force were martyred in a brazen attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s (K-P) restive Dera Ismail Khan district.

According to officials, dozens of terrorists attacked the Chaudhwan police station located in the district&rsquo;s Daraban tehsil first with sniper guns. The attack started at 3 am, as reported by Reuters.

Read SP martyred, top TTP commanders killed in Mardan IBO

&quot;More than 30 terrorists launched the attack from three directions,&quot; K-P provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told AFP. &quot;There was an exchange of fire for over two-and-a-half hours.&quot;

The attackers later entered the building, firing with automatic weapons and lobbing hand grenades, resulting in the deaths of ten policemen and injuries to at least six others. The Chaudhwan police station&rsquo;s station house officer (SHO), however, remained unharmed.

Daraban Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Malik Aneesul Hassan told Reuters that most of the police casualties occurred due to grenade blasts.

&#39;TTP set-up new base in K-P&#39;

On February 1, the UN revealed in its report that the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) established a new base in K-P in mid-2023. The report shed light on close ties between not only the TTP and the Afghan Taliban but also anti-Pakistani groups and al Qaeda.

The 33rd report compiled by the UN Monitoring Team was submitted to the UN Security Council in the last week of January providing details about the presence of terrorist organisations in Afghanistan and their linkage with the Kabul regime.

&ldquo;A new TTP base was established in mid-2023 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, where 66 TTP individuals trained as suicide bombers,&rdquo; the 23-page report read.

It was important to highlight that the new base was established merely months after Pakistan allowed hundreds of TTP terrorists to return as part of the confidence-building measure.

It was evident that the returning TTP terrorists instead of laying down arms regrouped and posed a greater threat to Pakistan&rsquo;s security.

The increased TTP attacks prompted authorities to withdraw from the peace efforts brokered by the Afghan Taliban.

&ldquo;[The] TTP was further strengthened and emboldened, increasing attacks with a broader degree of autonomy to manoeuvre,&rdquo; the UN report said.566 terrorists killed in 2023

At least 566 terrorists were neutralized during 18,736 intelligence-based operations (IBO) executed by security forces across the country in 2023.

The IBOs also resulted in the arrest of 5,161 terrorists. The evidence of recent terrorist incidents was traced back to sanctuaries in Afghanistan. In K-P, 1,942 intelligence-based operations were conducted, leading to the elimination of 447 terrorists.

The war against terrorism has not been without its toll. Over 1,000 individuals, including more than 260 officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Army, sacrificed their lives for the motherland in the face of terror attacks.]]>
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			<title>Islamophobic terrorism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457393/islamophobic-terrorism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2457393/islamophobic-terrorism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 23 Feb 24 21:16:22 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[A government statement noted that “incidents of Islamophobia have been on the rise]]>
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				<![CDATA[The decision of a Canadian judge to convict a white nationalist on terrorism charges for the killing of four Muslims in 2021 is a reminder of how a nation of laws should operate. White nationalist ideology and terrorism is on the rise in several countries, and opportunistic politicians in several countries have been quick to attach themselves to these groups. Canada, however, is an outlier. Although it has also seen a rise in white nationalist chatter, Canada has unusually large foreign-born and non-white populations. This provides a bulwark against the rise of any Trumpesque leaders, but it also provides a large target pool for those with violent inclinations.
The white nationalist who used his pickup truck to run over and kill four Pakistani-origin Muslims &mdash; a married couple, their daughter, and the man&rsquo;s mother &mdash; intended for his actions to scare Muslims into leaving the country. But despite the heinous nature of the crime, Canadians came together to support the Muslim community and the surviving victim &mdash; the couple&rsquo;s son, then just 9, was seriously injured in the attack but has since physically recovered. To their credit, the judge and jury also did not let the terrorist hide behind a mental health defence, and ensured that the killer will spend at least 25 years in jail before becoming eligible for parole &mdash; the maximum time allowable. The judge also described the case as &ldquo;a textbook example of terrorist motive and intent&rdquo;.
We must also credit the Canadian government for not trying to gloss over Islamophobia. A government statement noted that &ldquo;incidents of Islamophobia have been on the rise. Canada has had the highest number of targeted deadly attacks against Muslims of any G7 country&rdquo;. At the same time, the government assured that &ldquo;targeted, heinous, and hate-motivated attacks like this one are acts of terrorism, and perpetrators will and must face the full extent of the law&rdquo;. While responsible governments must try to nip xenophobia and bigotry in the bud, it is also important to assure victims, as Canada has done, that justice will be forthcoming.]]>
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			<title>Two notorious terrorists killed in Tank IBO</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2456705/two-notorious-terrorists-killed-in-tank-ibo</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2456705/two-notorious-terrorists-killed-in-tank-ibo#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 24 20:50:58 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2456705</guid>
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				<![CDATA[CTD DI Khan said that head of infamous TTP Baitani group, Faridullah alias Paraky were killed]]>
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				<![CDATA[Two terrorists and a policeman were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Tank district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday. 

Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) DI Khan said that the head of infamous TTP Baitani group, Faridullah alias Paraky and his aide Amjad alias Babary were killed in an IBO jointly conducted by district police, CTD and security forces.

A police constable Zahid also lost his life in the gunfight between terrorists and police.

Read&nbsp;CTD DI Khan said that head of infamous TTP Baitani group, Faridullah alias Paraky were killed

&ldquo;The group is involved in attacks on police posts, army posts as well as targeted attacks and extortions in Tank and surrounding districts including snatching of arms from police,&rdquo; said a police official of CTD, adding that they had received information about the presence of the group members in Dolat Korona following which a strategy was finalized and operation launched to arrest them.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th 2024.]]>
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			<title>Worsening security</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455586/worsening-security</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455586/worsening-security#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Feb 24 20:25:24 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan has serious geopolitical problem with three of its neighbours, new front with Iran is a case in point]]>
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				<![CDATA[Security situation is getting precarious as back-to-back attacks are reported on security personnel. The killing of 10 policemen at Chodhwan in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is too unnerving to report, as terrorists overwhelmed them in a late night operation, leaving behind many more injured including the local SHO. K-P as well as Balochistan are in the eye of the storm as periodic assaults have deterred the election campaign too. The list of recent casualties is exhausting: a PTI candidate shot dead in Bajaur; a bomb blast at the party&rsquo;s rally in Sibi; an ANP activist killed in Qilla Abdullah; and last but not least a grenade attack at PPP election camp in Quetta. All this goes on to establish that there is a vicious plan at work wherein dreaded elements are out to spread chaos and mayhem.

The Chodhwan attack coincides with a similar ambush a month ago wherein 23 soldiers of Pakistan Army were martyred in the same district as militants rammed an explosives-laden truck into a security forces&rsquo; post. Similar incidents in Waziristan, Chitral and Gwadar as well as in Punjab province establish that there is a serious security threat, and there are foreign elements in cahoots with abettors to fan unrest. The influx of homeless people from Afghanistan in the last two years is at the root cause of this revulsion. At the same time, it goes without saying that we had blinked somewhere as priorities to target unscrupulous elements were put on the backburner. This has provided terrorists a chance to regroup and take on the security forces that had valiantly put down the insurgency in tribal and settled areas during the war on terror.

Pakistan has a serious geopolitical problem with three of its neighbours, and the new front with Iran is a case in point. The way forward is to up the vigil, and put security at the vanguard of national priorities. It comes as a challenge for local administrations and the security apparatus to ensure peaceful elections, and there shouldn&rsquo;t be any hiccup in it.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>10 cops martyred in brazen DI Khan attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455540/10-cops-martyred-in-brazen-di-khan-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455540/10-cops-martyred-in-brazen-di-khan-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 05 Feb 24 06:24:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2455540</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Terrorists target police station in Daraban tehsil on Monday morning]]>
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				<![CDATA[In an escalation of violence days before the upcoming general elections, at least ten policemen including members of an elite force were martyred on Monday in a brazen attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s (K-P) restive Dera Ismail Khan district.

According to officials, dozens of terrorists attacked the Chaudhwan police station located in the district&rsquo;s Daraban tehsil first with sniper guns. The attack started at 3 am, as reported by Reuters.

&quot;More than 30 terrorists launched the attack from three directions,&quot; K-P provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told AFP. &quot;There was an exchange of fire for over two-and-a-half hours.&quot;

The attackers later entered the building, firing with automatic weapons and lobbing hand grenades, resulting in the deaths of ten policemen and injuries to at least six others. The Chaudhwan police station&rsquo;s station house officer (SHO), however, remained unharmed.

Daraban Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Malik Aneesul Hassan told Reuters that most of the police casualties occurred due to grenade blasts.

Speaking to Express News, the DSP identified the martyred as four personnel of the K-P Elite Police Force&mdash; Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) Kausar, Ihtiram, Rafiullah, and Hamidul Haq. A platoon of Elite Force from Swabi was deployed at the police station, he added.

Other martyred policemen were Muhammad Islam, Ghulam Fareed, Muhammad Javaid, Muhammad Idris, Muhammad Imran, and Mansoor. The injured included Ahmad Hussain, Akbar Zaman, Anayatullah, Sohrab Khan, Ibrahim, and Nasib Khan.

Upon receiving reports of the attack, heavy contingents of police rushed to the police station. Security forces cordoned off the area and initiated a search operation in surrounding areas, including forests.

They established pickets on roads leading to South Waziristan, Drazanda, and Dera Ghazi Khan. The Pakistan Army was later deployed for the security of the police station.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar &quot;strongly condemned&quot; the attack. &quot;The entire nation stands with the police and security forces and salutes the martyrs,&quot; he said in a statement.

Read Three more cops martyred as terrorists step up attack on K-P police

A senior government official informed AFP about the &quot;severe threat&quot; in southern areas of the K-P, where Monday&#39;s assault took place.

&quot;Terrorists have now begun to blend in with civilian populations in urban areas, making it difficult to conduct operations against them,&quot; the official said, requesting anonymity.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack and whether it was related to the election. On Wednesday, a National Assembly candidate was shot dead elsewhere in K-P, while another political leader was shot dead in his party&#39;s election office in Balochistan.

On Tuesday, a bomb attack following an election rally killed four people in Balochistan. The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility.

In December, at least 23 soldiers were killed when a six-man suicide squad drove an explosive-laden truck into a military camp set up in a police station complex, also in Daraban.

Pakistan has seen a resurgence of attacks by terrorists, especially targeting security personnel, since 2022, when a ceasefire between the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government broke down.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week confirmed that general elections would proceed as planned after holding an urgent meeting with security officials following a spate of violence in the K-P and Balochistan provinces.

Daraban lies in an area considered a stronghold of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). The party chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, traveled last month to Afghanistan to meet the Taliban&#39;s supreme spiritual leader, one of his few known meetings with foreign dignitaries.

The party has also called for a delay in Pakistan&#39;s polls due to security concerns.

WITH INPUT FROM AFP and REUTERS]]>
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			<title>Mess in Mach</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455174/mess-in-mach</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455174/mess-in-mach#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 01 Feb 24 20:06:47 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Standoff in desolate horizons of Mach in Balochistan was grim reminder of precarious security situation]]>
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				<![CDATA[The standoff in the desolate horizons of Mach in Balochistan was a grim reminder of the precarious security situation. The 40 hours&rsquo; long gunbattle between terrorists and security personnel had brought life to a standstill, and the locals had to weather the inclement weather as well as suspension of electricity, apart from the fear of the unknown. But it goes to the credit of our valiant soldiers that an act of insurgency was put down, and in the duels more than nine terrorists were exterminated. With areas surrounding Mach now cleared from unscrupulous elements, life is limping back to normalcy and the Quetta-Sukkur highway is now open after being closed for three days. But train service is yet to be restored as sections of railway track were uprooted by dreaded elements.

This pitched contest and downslide for almost a week was unnerving, and the resurfacing of Baloch insurgents, especially of BLA elements, is detrimental. This points out that the socio-economic and political unrest in Balochistan is now graduating into a serious military confrontation. This is where some shrewd calculations are needed, and the prime among them is to differentiate between the terror and political revulsion. The state authorities are right in making a fair choice as they believe that nuisance in the form of terrorism must be eliminated, and all those who are eager to strike a working relationship with the government, and serious in redressing their grievances should be accommodated. The policy to come up with developmental packages for the backward areas is a case in point, and Baloch should take pride in the fact that their province is home to the multi-billion dollar CPEC, which is a game changer in the region.

The mess in Mach must be read in the broader context of terror fissures across the country. Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are unfortunately on the receiving end as non-state actors from Afghanistan and elsewhere have an axe to grind. Similarly, the restive province is dotted with sleeper cells, and foreign-funded activists are busy fanning fire. This necessitates a vigilant strategy and one that addresses the issue in a holistic manner.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

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			<title>India exporting terrorism to NATO member states</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454829/india-exporting-terrorism-to-nato-member-states</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454829/india-exporting-terrorism-to-nato-member-states#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 24 20:41:37 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Air Commodore (r) Zahid ul Hassan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Indian government has been unleashing brutal state power to crush political dissent]]>
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				<![CDATA[On 29 November 2023, Federal Prosecutors of the American Justice Department filed explosive charges in a New York Court against an &lsquo;identified Indian government employee&rsquo; regarding a plot to kill a US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on the US soil. The 15-page indictment carried timeline-based communication and human intelligence evidence about the Indian subversive plan to assassinate US and Canadian citizens in the US and Canada respectively. The plot revealed unambiguous communication excerpts between a senior Indian Intelligence operative named as CC-1 in the indictment, an undercover agent of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and an Indian middle man Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman, another US undercover agent, to undertake assassinations. CC-1 through Nikhil Gupta paid $15,000 as advance money of the agreed $100,000 for the murder with an alluring promise to provide more targets for further killings. The murder plot, busted on 29 June 2023 with the arrest of Nikhil Gupta in Prague, also established direct links between the Indian government officials and the assassination of Canadian Citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June last year. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had levelled serious allegations in the parliament against the Indian government regarding its involvement in the murder of Nijjar and described the incident as &lsquo;violation of its sovereignty&rsquo;. Ironically, these were not the isolated events, rather they were a sequel to the earlier mysterious killing of a Sikh national, Avtar Singh Khanda, in the UK. However, the British government opted not to raise its concerns due to political reasons. 

Earlier, on 25 September 2023, The Washington Post substantiated Prime Minister Trudeau&rsquo;s allegations when it revealed part of the evidence based on eyewitness accounts and CCTV video that indicated execution of a coordinated attack by six gunmen using two vehicles to assassinate Nijjar. The attackers used automated weapons to spray 50 bullets out of which 34 hit the victim. Later, CC-1 also shared footage of Nijjar&rsquo;s killing with the likely hitmen of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. These stunning revelations and associated communication intercepts added up to irrefutable evidence as to Indian government&rsquo;s culpability in Nijjar&rsquo;s gruesome murder. Imagine if complete range of evidence including direct communication intercepts, record of meetings, details of assets used (vehicles, weapons, ammunition and funds), identification of attackers, abettors and facilitators and their linkage with the Indian authorities were publically revealed, it would not only further humiliate the Indian government but also bring disastrous consequences for the global power ambitions of India. 

Paradoxically, Indian government responded differently to two similar situations. In Nijjar&rsquo;s case, it appeared that public revelations by Prime Minister Trudeau caught the Indians off guard. Instead of accepting its involvement in the assassination of Nijjar on Canadian soil, Indian government responded with arrogance, launched a diplomatic offensive against Ottawa and outright called the allegations &lsquo;absurd&rsquo;. Shrieking Indian media, in its usual jingoistic chorus, went berserk and even tacitly allowed Professor Kapil Kumar, a renowned Indian scholar and close aide of the Indian Prime Minister, to threaten Canada to be &lsquo;nuked&rsquo; on a national TV channel, without realising that being a NATO member state, Canada is protected by Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty which commits each member state to consider armed attack against one member state to be an armed attack against them all. Ironically, the Indian government also did not issue any clarification or distanced itself from the statement of the Professor. 

Contrarily, Indian response to similar US allegations was more cautious and somewhat receptive as spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Mr Arindam Bagchi, termed the US allegations &lsquo;a matter of concern&rsquo; and promised thorough investigation. Owing to its vital stakes in India, Washington finds itself in a dilemma to either stand with its NATO allies and protect the Western liberal democratic values or fall prey to its geopolitical compulsions, while inaction is not an option. Nevertheless, despite its so-called geopolitical relevance, India for the first time since 1968 has been compelled to abandon RAW&rsquo;s intelligence operations in Washington DC, San Francisco, Ottawa and London. 

Indian government has been unleashing brutal state power to crush political dissent and export terrorism to its neighbouring countries with impunity. In January 2017, Pakistan handed over a dossier to the UN Secretary General along with a confessional statement of Indian spy Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav, a serving naval officer working for RAW, who was travelling on a fake passport with identity of Hussain Mubarak Patel, containing irrefutable evidence and proof of Indian involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan. In August 2022, eight Indian navy officers were arrested in Qatar on charges of espionage and subsequently sentenced to death. However, Western exceptionalism has emboldened New Delhi to expand its state-sponsored terror network to Western countries as well. As a consequence, Sikh nationals in Canada, Australia, Italy, the US and the UK have expressed fear that Indian authorities may crush their political dissent by killing them. According to media reports, Canadian authorities warned Gurmeet Singh Toor, a close associate of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, about threat to his life posed by Indian agents. All of these incidents bear testimony to the fact that Indian state-sponsored terrorism has transcended Indian neighbourhood and has not spared even NATO member states. The situation is too serious to be shrugged off and India cannot get away by merely stating that &lsquo;this is contrary to the government policy&rsquo;.

Seemingly, India has grossly overestimated its global relevance and wrongly assumed that it could get away with the killing of political dissidents in NATO member states as well. The Indian Minister of External Affairs appeared perplexed and short of words while defending his country against charges of exporting terrorism during his talk at the US Council on Foreign Relations in September last year. Although India has been presenting itself as victim of terrorism, in reality, it has become the epicentre of international terrorism. Pakistan, as a victim of Indian terrorism, has been alerting the international community of the dangers posed by Indian state-sponsored terrorism to the regional and international peace and security. Strong measures are therefore necessary to discipline India by leveraging instruments such as FATF.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

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			<title>Counter-errorism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454827/counter-errorism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454827/counter-errorism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jan 24 20:41:35 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[M Zeb Khan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2454827</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Following APS tragedy, all stakeholders put their heads together, chalked out comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy]]>
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				<![CDATA[We have somehow, and to a greater extent, come out of the scourge of terrorism but now we need to fight errorism &mdash; blunderism to be more candid &mdash; because the country cannot afford the accumulated effect of small errors and/or the fallout of a major one! These errors are both individual as well as institutional and have been callously made and later on persistently ignored. At the heart of all the mess we are in is the lack of a &lsquo;broad consensus&rsquo; on governance model which fits into our peculiar circumstances. 

A blueprint for this &lsquo;broad consensus&rsquo; already exists in the form of National Action Plan (NAP) which, though not fully implemented, has steered the country out of marshland of ubiquitous terrorism in the country. Following the APS tragedy, all stakeholders put their heads together and chalked out a comprehensive anti-terrorism strategy with action plans for all concerned. The unity of direction and action led to unimaginable results in a very short period. Only God knows where we would be now if the pre-APS lack of direction and political will had persisted!

Building on the success story of fighting terrorism better than any other country in the world, the political leadership, across party lines, should come up with another National Action Plan to fix the governance problem. Although the 1973 Constitution provides a clear framework of power distribution and defines relationship between the state and society but it has to be supplemented with specific laws and actionable plans for reforms in different sectors. Governance, in essence, is the implementation of the constitution and, therefore, requires reconciling the conflicting interests of various stakeholders. 

The key governance issue, where the country cannot afford ad hoc approach and haphazard plans, is managing the economy. Replacing one minister with another is no more than changing the batting order. How can a structural problem of team selection, coaching and motivation be solved with simply changing the order of players? Not only have we seen different faces running the show for the last seventy years but also different governance models without any sustained economic progress. 

Besides many structural problems, the political leadership needs to build consensus on three fundamental issues which include the documentation of economy, broadening the tax net and across-the-board accountability. So far, no serious effort has been made to focus on these issues. During Musharraf&rsquo;s regime, there was some lackluster plan for documentation but having legitimacy problem, he could not make it through under pressure from business elites and other mafias. 

Failing to broaden the tax net has also been a pernicious problem. We have the lowest tax-to-GDP ratio and most of the tax revenue comes from salaried class, and indirect taxation in the form of GST. Agriculture is still outside the tax net and so are many services and sectors. Indirect taxes put burden on all citizens indiscriminately and constitute one of the main drivers of inflation. The tax system has to be fair, simple and transparent for people to pay taxes. 

The accountability system is also deeply flawed. It is presumably selective, discretionary and largely counter-productive. The structure, process and function of NAB need to be revisited in light of the lessons learned since its inception. Ascendance of the West is due primarily to honest leadership and credible institutions. Free media, independent judiciary and powerful oversight parliamentary bodies make it impossible for anyone to misuse authority.

Mud-slinging and name calling inside and outside the parliament would not revive our economy. Blaming one another for failure of the system is also not very helpful. Throwing old ideas of presidential system versus parliamentary system are fanciful slogans aimed at deflating criticism for failure. Let the political leadership rise to the occasion and capitalise on the current economic crisis for building a counter-errorism strategy which focuses on all the fault lines of our governance system with the core goal of sustained economic growth. China and India, with different governance models, have realised this goal. We can do too.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2024.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.

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			<title>Korea-aided projects in NMDs highlighted</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454541/korea-aided-projects-in-nmds-highlighted</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454541/korea-aided-projects-in-nmds-highlighted#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jan 24 20:38:16 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2454541</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Economic growth to mitigate terrorism’s adverse effects, asserts CM]]>
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				<![CDATA[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s Caretaker Chief Minister, Justice (retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, has asserted that the accelerated development of the newly merged districts stands atop the priority list for the provincial government. 

In the face of myriad challenges and a demanding financial landscape, the government is engaged in overcoming obstacles, seeking collaboration with international donor agencies and development partners to expedite this crucial initiative.

In a meeting, a delegation led by the Country Director of the Korea International Cooperation Agency&nbsp;, Yeon Je Hoe, and the Country Manager of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jennifer Ankrom Khan, engaged in discussions with the chief minister. 

He highlighted the key role of economic development and prosperity as potent tools to counteract the adverse effects of militancy and terrorism. He emphasized the provincial government&rsquo;s commitment to a &lsquo;Human Resource Export Strategy,&rsquo; designed to offer market-oriented crash courses to the youth, empowering them with the skills needed to secure job opportunities.

Read&nbsp;Economic uplift plan tailored for NMDs

The meeting delved into matters of mutual interest, placing a special focus on ongoing public welfare projects within the province, supported by UNOPS and KOICA. Provincial Minister Dr. Syed Sarfaraz Ali Shah and other officials were in attendance.

The CM expressed gratitude for the continuous support provided by UNOPS and KOICA and conveyed the province&rsquo;s dedication to their shared goals. Prospects for mutual cooperation were explored, with particular attention to ongoing and future development projects for the merged districts. 

He highlighted the resilience and inherent talent of the province&rsquo;s youth, underscoring the imperative need for training aligned with modern market demands.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>Cop killed in attack at ECP Turbat office</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454424/cop-killed-in-attack-at-ecp-turbat-office</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454424/cop-killed-in-attack-at-ecp-turbat-office#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jan 24 20:47:59 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Five labourers hailing from South Punjab kidnapped in Kech]]>
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				<![CDATA[In a tragic turn of events in the Turbat district of Balochistan, a police constable named Nimroz met an untimely demise in an attack at the office of the election commissioner. The assailants, armed and brazen, targeted the election commissioner&rsquo;s office, resulting in Nimroz sustaining critical injuries. Despite being transported to a nearby hospital, his injuries proved fatal, adding a somber note to a day marred by violence across the province.

The attackers, displaying a level of audacity, managed to escape after committing the crime without facing any immediate challenge. 

In response, the police swiftly cordoned off the entire locality and launched a door-to-door search operation in an attempt to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

An FIR has been lodged against unidentified terrorists, and the police have initiated an investigation into the attack, aiming to unravel the motives and apprehend those responsible.

Simultaneously, in another distressing incident in the district of Kech, armed men forcefully kidnapped five laborers. 

These laborers, hailing from Southern Punjab, were engaged in the construction of a mobile tower in the Dhandar area of Hoshab Tehsil in Kech. 

The motive behind this kidnapping remains unclear, intensifying concerns about the safety and security of individuals involved in such projects. The abducted individuals&mdash;Nazir Ahmed, Farooq, Muhammad Tariq, Safdar, and Hasnain&mdash;are all natives of Southern Punjab.

Balochistan&rsquo;s Caretaker Chief Minister, Ali Mardan Domki, took immediate notice of the incident and directed the police to spare no effort in ensuring the safe recovery of the kidnapped men. 

Read&nbsp;Attack on election commissioner&#39;s office claims cop&#39;s life in Turbat

The station house officer (SHO) of Hoshab, accompanied by his team, has been dispatched to the site to gather evidence and conduct a thorough investigation.

A spokesperson for the Balochistan police emphasized, &ldquo;We are working diligently to locate the missing individuals and ensure their safe return. We are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness and are exploring all possible angles.

In another incident in Dera Bugti, at least two men were injured in a bomb explosion in the Sui tehsil. 

Levies sources reported that the injured individuals were brothers of a tribal elder and were rushed to the Sui hospital for medical treatment. 

Levies force and police arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation into the incident, aiming to determine the motives behind the explosion and identify those responsible.

These distressing incidents come just two days after Chief Minister Domki&rsquo;s visit to Turbat, where he personally oversaw the planning for the upcoming electoral process in the province. Chairing a high-level meeting about the elections, Domki reaffirmed the commitment to providing security to both voters and candidates. 

The visit came on the heels of an armed attack targeting candidates of the National Party, a Baloch nationalist party, in the district Kech.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2024.]]>
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			<title>Ethnic murders</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454077/ethnic-murders</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454077/ethnic-murders#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jan 24 20:05:36 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Death toll among police officials in North Waziristan is already in double figures just few weeks into new year]]>
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				<![CDATA[New reports of unexplained murders of &lsquo;non-locals&rsquo; in North Waziristan are causing extreme concern about the ability of local law enforcers to make any kind of dent in crime. Less than a month after six barbers hailing from Punjab were murdered in Mir Ali tehsil, the bodies of five more low-wage workers, including three non-locals, have been found in the same area. The recent murders, however, are even more egregious because it appears at least a few of the victims were not even working in the area, and were just passing through to deliver vegetables to another town. This means they almost certainly could not have had any local enmity or even been accused of &lsquo;stealing jobs&rsquo; from locals, which is also a major rationale provided by nationalist and separatist militant groups behind ethnic violence and outright terrorism in Balochistan and other places.

That is not to say that law enforcers are incompetent &mdash; far from it. The death toll among police officials in the region is already in double figures just a few weeks into the new year. The upsurge in terrorism over the past several months has severely handicapped police and other security apparatus around the country. We can&rsquo;t expect the police to run professional investigations when they are struggling to keep themselves alive. The fault lies with the state, which cannot even provide appropriate security to security officials. While the families of the civilian victims protest over the senseless killings of their loved ones, the families of security officials must quietly wonder what good has come of their loved ones&rsquo; sacrifices, since violent crime and terrorism continue to rise, and evidence increases that the country is genuinely backsliding to a place where we were told we would never go back. The state&rsquo;s increasing failure to provide meaning to the lives of those who gave up everything for it is arguably the greatest betrayal of those martyrs.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2024.

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			<title>Iranian stunt</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453580/iranian-stunt</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453580/iranian-stunt#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Jan 24 19:37:57 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[FO warned Iran that responsibility for consequences would rest with Islamic Republic, its intelligence, IRGC]]>
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				<![CDATA[Iran&rsquo;s surprising stunt to conduct a so-called hot pursuit inside Pakistan&rsquo;s territory is worrisome. It has badly hurt the congeniality between the two states, and will take a long time in some fence-mending. The daredevil attack, carried out in the Panjgur district of Pakistan&rsquo;s Balochistan province, led to the killing of two innocent children, belying Iran&rsquo;s claim of targeting the Jaish Al-Adl militant group. While both countries already have a counterterrorism understanding, it would have been more rational for Iran to have taken Pakistan in confidence. The Foreign Office has conveyed strongest condemnation of this blatant violation of Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty, and warned that the responsibility for consequences would rest with the Islamic Republic, its intelligence and the IRGC.

The spin that Iran and its proxy in Lebanon are trying to portray is that the attack was choreographed with Pakistani authorities well in time. That is, however, not the case. This is why Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and suspend all high-level visits ongoing or planned between the two countries. The irritating aspect is that Iran has, for quite some time, been seen flexing its muscles. Its trigger-happiness is evident as it went for incursions in Iraq, and influenced the Houthis to go wayward extraterritorially.

Terrorism and non-state actors are a nuisance in the region, and elements like TTP and Jaish Al-Adl, as well as BLA, BLF and IS-K, are out to play havoc with peace and security. Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav crossed over from Iran to carry out his nefarious mission of destabilising Pakistan. Terrorists from across the Iranian borders have also frequently targeted Pakistan border guards. Despite being a victim of their meddling, Pakistan has desisted from taking on the terror elements inside its neighbouring countries. Instead it has always tried to use diplomatic channels to persuade them to assuage its concerns. 

Terrorism is a common enemy. Who knows this better than Pakistan which has rendered countless sacrifices in the war on terror. Terrorism has to be eradicated for regional stability. But the modus operandi to go solo is unacceptable. Iran must see the bigger picture of harmony with Pakistan and desist from jingoism &ndash; and be warned that Islamabad reserves the right to respond.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2024.

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