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Army says five militants killed in intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s northwest

Army says five militants killed in intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s northwest
In this file photograph taken on July 9, 2014 shows Pakistani soldiers patrol during a military operation against Taliban militants, in the main town of Miranshah in North Waziristan. (AFP/File)
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Updated 30 December 2023
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Army says five militants killed in intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s northwest

Army says five militants killed in intelligence-based operation in Pakistan’s northwest
  • The militants were suspected of launching attacks on security forces along with extortion and target killings
  • Pakistan’s top army generals vowed to deal with militant factions with ‘full might of the state’ earlier this week
Updated 30 December 2023
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan district, the army’s media wing, ISPR, said in a statement on Saturday, killing five militants involved in violent activities and other crimes in the area.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence since the beginning of the year which has been claimed by various proscribed entities including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) whose leadership is said to have taken sanctuary in neighboring Afghanistan.
Earlier this week, the top army generals decided in a huddle to deal with such militant factions and their facilitators with the “full might of the state” to restore peace in the country.
“On 29th December 2023, Security Forces conducted an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) in area of Mir Ali, North Waziristan District, on reported presence of terrorists,” the ISPR said in its statement, adding that five militants, including their leader, were killed after intense exchange of fire.
“The terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as extortion and target killings of innocent civilians,” it added. “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered during the operation.”
The ISPR informed it had launched a “sanitization operation” to eliminate any other militant hiding in the area.
Pakistan has repeatedly requested Afghanistan not to allow armed factions like the TTP to use its territory to launch attacks in the neighborhood.
Officials in Islamabad also launched a deportation drive toward the end of the year to send all “illegal immigrants,” mostly Afghan nationals, to their country for security reasons.

Topics: Pakistan Army

Pakistan calls for independent commission on minorities, activating mosques as community centers

Pakistan calls for independent commission on minorities, activating mosques as community centers
Updated 29 sec ago
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Pakistan calls for independent commission on minorities, activating mosques as community centers

Pakistan calls for independent commission on minorities, activating mosques as community centers
  • Non-Muslims constitute about three percent of Pakistan’s estimated population of 240 million
  • Pakistan’s minorities regularly come under attack by militant groups, complain of discrimination
Updated 29 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday called for granting financial and administrative autonomy to the National Commission for Minorities and said an interfaith harmony policy should be launched to activate mosques as community centers to promote religious tolerance. 
Non-Muslims constitute about three percent of Pakistan’s estimated population of 240 million people. Pakistan’s minority communities complain of facing discrimination in nearly all walks of life and regularly come under attack by militant groups. They have also sometimes been accused of blasphemy, which is punishable by death in the South Asian nation.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs and Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Rana Sanaullah, chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2024. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar proposed at the meeting to make the National Commission for Minorities “independent and autonomous from ministerial pressure.”
“The subcommittee also proposed granting financial and administrative autonomy to the commission. The commission will consist of 13 members, 9 of whom will be from minority communities,” the ministry of religious affairs said in a statement. 
“The committee directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to finalize the National Commission for Minorities Bill 2024 within three days.”
A new interfaith harmony policy for promoting religious tolerance was also reviewed. 
“Sanaullah emphasized the significant importance of mosques in Islam and suggested that the interfaith harmony policy should include a proposal to activate mosques as community centers,” the statement said. 
“The committee directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to present the interfaith harmony policy and the policy for promoting religious tolerance to the federal cabinet meeting for final approval, incorporating the subcommittee’s amendments related to both policies.”

With Champions Trophy looming, Pakistan rest Afridi for South Africa tests

With Champions Trophy looming, Pakistan rest Afridi for South Africa tests
Updated 46 min 6 sec ago
Reuters
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With Champions Trophy looming, Pakistan rest Afridi for South Africa tests

With Champions Trophy looming, Pakistan rest Afridi for South Africa tests
  • Pakistan wants to keep the speedster fresh for the Champions Trophy at home next year
  • Left-arm quick picked for six limited-overs matches in South Africa beginning Dec. 10
Updated 46 min 6 sec ago
Reuters

LAHORE: Speedster Shaheen Afridi has been left out of Pakistan’s squad for a two-test series in South Africa in a bid to keep him fresh for the Champions Trophy at home next year, the country’s cricket board said on Wednesday.
However, the left-arm quick has been picked for six limited-overs matches in South Africa beginning on Dec. 10, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement.
“Shaheen Afridi, who also missed the last two tests against England, has been picked for the white-ball matches as part of his workload management so that he is in his best fitness and form for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” the statement read.
Fellow fast bowler Naseem Shah and batting mainstay Babar Azam, both of whom missed the last two matches against England, were recalled for the test matches in Centurion and Cape Town.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan, whose tally of 19 wickets in two tests was key to Pakistan’s 2-1 series victory against England in October, was dropped.
“Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision,” selector and interim test team coach Aqib Javed said.
“However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling.”
Pakistan squads:
Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
ODI: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
T20I: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)

Topics: Shaheen Shah Afridi ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Imran Khan’s party has ‘history of lawlessness,’ Pakistani deputy PM tells diplomatic corps

Imran Khan’s party has ‘history of lawlessness,’ Pakistani deputy PM tells diplomatic corps
Updated 04 December 2024
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Imran Khan’s party has ‘history of lawlessness,’ Pakistani deputy PM tells diplomatic corps

Imran Khan’s party has ‘history of lawlessness,’ Pakistani deputy PM tells diplomatic corps
  • Ishaq Dar briefs diplomats on recent protests by PTI and government actions to disperse demonstrators
  • The PTI says at least 20 of its supporters have been killed, while the government says four troops died
Updated 04 December 2024
Falak Mahmood Khan

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf of jailed ex-premier Imran Khan had a “history of lawlessness,” as he briefed the diplomatic corps on recent protests by the party and government actions to disperse demonstrators. 
Thousands of PTI supporters had gathered in Islamabad’s historic D-Chowk square last month to demand Khan’s release from prison. The protest convoy broke through several lines of security and reached the edge of the capital’s highly fortified red zone, home to key government and diplomatic buildings. The protest was called off after security forces carried out a midnight raid on the site, with the government saying it used rubber bullets and tear gas but no live ammunition. 
The PTI says at least 20 of its supporters have been killed, while the government says four troops died. The PTI has also said “hundreds” of its supporters had been hospitalized with gunshot wounds and the government was attempting to cover up the extent of the deaths and injuries, which state authorities deny. Meanwhile, social media platforms have been awash for days with pictures and video footage of the injured and dead that the government has called “fake propaganda,” insisting there were no civilian casualties.
Briefing diplomats at the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Wednesday, Dar reiterated that law enforcement agencies were not provided live ammunition but used water cannons, tear gas and batons.
“Our priority has always been to take care of the red zone … And we are very conscious that our valuable ambassadors, high commissioners, their colleagues, they are all housed in that area so this has always been a priority during our governance that we make sure that this area, which we call the red zone, is free from any protests or any violence,” the deputy PM said. 
For this purpose, Dar explained, parliament passed a law this year, the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024, to streamline the process for obtaining permission to hold public gatherings in Islamabad and designating specific areas and timings for such activities. 
Prior to the start of the PTI’s protest on Nov. 24, a Pakistani court had also ruled that the party would not be allowed to demonstrate in the red zone, but should engage with the government and be designated an alternative location.
“The government obviously tried its best, the ministry of interior engaged them [PTI], there were long sessions of three days but nothing came out of it,” Dar said. “They were insistent that law or no law, that we will come in the red zone, so unfortunately [there is] a history of lawlessness in this party.”
The deputy foreign minister, who also serves as the country’s foreign minister, also said the party had a history of announcing protests during visits by foreign dignitaries. 
The November protest coincided with a visit to Pakistan of the president of Belarus while protests in October, which the PTI later called off, had been planned on the days of a key Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Islamabad. 
“This shows mala fide intent,” Dar added. 
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed legal action against “rioters” involved in the PTI’s anti-government protests as the party decried a state-backed crackdown against its supporters.
In the aftermath of the protests, Sharif has formed two task forces: one to identify and take legal action against rioters and another to track and bring to justice suspects behind what the government describes as a “malicious campaign” to spread “concocted, baseless and inciting” online news, images and video content against the state and security forces.

Topics: Ishaq Dar Imran Khan PTI protest Islamabad Protest

Pakistan stocks smash record 105,000 mark on rate cut hopes

Pakistan stocks smash record 105,000 mark on rate cut hopes
Updated 04 December 2024
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Pakistan stocks smash record 105,000 mark on rate cut hopes

Pakistan stocks smash record 105,000 mark on rate cut hopes
  • State Bank has already slashed interest rates by 700 basis points in four consecutive meetings since June
  • Poll by Topline Securities says 71 percent participants expect central bank will announce rate cut of 200bps
Updated 04 December 2024
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani stocks continued their record-breaking streak on Wednesday, crossing the 105,000 point mark for the first time on the back of investor confidence of a significant interest rate cut by the central bank at the next monetary policy meeting on Dec. 16.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index climbed 914.49 points, or 0.87%, to hit a new intraday high of 105,473.56. Wednesday’s session follows Tuesday’s impressive gains, with the market closing at 104,559.07, adding 1,284 points.

The State Bank has already slashed interest rates by 700 basis points (bps) in four consecutive meetings since June, bringing the rate to 15%.

According to a poll conducted by Topline Securities, 71 % of participants expect the central bank will announce a minimum rate cut of 200bps.

“Out of the 71 percent, 63 percent expect the interest rate to be cut by 200bps, 30 percent expect a cut of 250bps, and 7.0 percent anticipate a cut of more than 250bps,” the poll said.

Market analysts credit the rally in stocks to improving macroeconomic indicators, strong trade performance, and the anticipation of further monetary easing.

Pakistan’s annual consumer inflation slowed to 4.9% in November, lower than the government’s forecast and the lowest in nearly six years. This is down from 38% last year.

Trade data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics also supports positive investor sentiment as the trade deficit narrowed by 7.39% during the first five months (July-November) of the current fiscal year, standing at $8.651 billion, compared to $9.341 billion during the same period last year.

Exports rose by 12.57% to hit $13.69 billion, while imports increased by 3.90% to $22.342 billion during this period. November’s trade deficit narrowed even further, dropping by 18.60% year-on-year to $1.589 billion compared to $1.952 billion in November 2023.

Topics: Pakistan Stock Exchange

Pakistan recall fast bowler Mohammad Abbas after 3 years for test matches in South Africa

Pakistan recall fast bowler Mohammad Abbas after 3 years for test matches in South Africa
Updated 04 December 2024
AP
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Pakistan recall fast bowler Mohammad Abbas after 3 years for test matches in South Africa

Pakistan recall fast bowler Mohammad Abbas after 3 years for test matches in South Africa
  • Abbas has taken 90 wickets in 25 test matches but hasn’t played red-ball cricket for Pakistan since the Jamaica test in 2021
  • He has been in impressive form of late, picking up 31 wickets in five premier domestic four-day tournament matches
Updated 04 December 2024
AP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recalled fast bowler Mohammad Abbas after three years for test matches while Shaheen Shah Afridi will play only white-ball cricket in South Africa.
Abbas has taken 90 wickets in 25 test matches but hasn’t played red-ball cricket for Pakistan since the Jamaica test in 2021. He has been in impressive form of late, picking up 31 wickets in five premier domestic four-day tournament matches.
“Shaheen Shah Afridi’s exclusion from the test squad is a strategic decision to ensure he remains physically and mentally fresh for the Champions Trophy,” selection committee member Aaqib Javed said in a statement on Wednesday.
Naseem Shah, who missed the last two home test matches against England, Khurram Shahzad and left-armer Mir Hamza are the pace bowlers named to the test squad.
Pakistan begins its tour of South Africa next Tuesday with three T20s, followed by three ODIs and two test matches at Centurion and Cape Town.
“We have adopted a horses for courses policy to ensure all three squads are well-balanced and capable of performing strongly in South Africa,” said Javed, who was also appointed interim white-ball coach ahead of Pakistan’s tour to Zimbabwe.
“Our focus in ODIs is to continue building momentum ahead of the Champions Trophy, while the T20 series provides a platform to blend experience with emerging talent.”
Off-spinner Sajid Khan missed out on the test team despite claiming 19 wickets in the last two test matches against England at Multan and Rawalpindi. Noman Ali, who picked up 20 wickets in those two memorable victories for Pakistan, won the selectors’ nod ahead of Sajid.
“Leaving out Sajid Khan, despite his stellar performances against England, was an extremely tough and difficult decision,” Javed said. “However, considering the pace-friendly conditions at Centurion and in Cape Town, we opted for Mohammad Abbas instead, who is an outstanding exponent of seam bowling.”
Former all format captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha were named to all three squads.
The selectors have kept faith in youngster Sufiyan Muqeem for T20s and ODIs after the left-arm wrist spinner claimed eight wickets in two T20s against Zimbabwe. Sufiyan also recorded Pakistan’s best-ever T20 figures of five wickets for three runs at Bulawayo on Tuesday that routed Zimbabwe for its lowest T20 score of 57 all out.
Squads:
Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha.
ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.
T20s: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan.

Topics: Pakistan vs South Africa

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