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Pakistan Navy warship Babur returns after joint exercises with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye

Pakistan Navy warship Babur returns after joint exercises with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye
This handout photograph, taken and released by Pakistan Navy, shows Pakistan Navy’s warship Babur sit in the dock at the Karachi Naval Dockyard in Karachi on June 26, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Navy)
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Updated 27 June 2024
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Pakistan Navy warship Babur returns after joint exercises with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye

Pakistan Navy warship Babur returns after joint exercises with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye
  • PNS Babur warship conducted joint exercise with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Riyadh frigate in Jeddah last Wednesday
  • Pakistan and Turkiye launched warship last year, which is part of a four-vessel deal between the two countries
Updated 27 June 2024
Arab News Pakistan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy’s warship PNS Babur returned to Karachi on Wednesday after holding separate joint exercises with Turkiye and Saudi Arabia this month, the navy said in a statement. 
Last Wednesday, the Pakistani ship visited the Jeddah port where it conducted a joint exercise with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Riyadh frigate to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two countries. 
On June 15, PNS Babur participated in bilateral exercise TURGUTREIS-IX at the Aksaz naval base in Turkiye. Their activities encompassed harbor and sea exercises, where the two navies rehearsed various maritime operations and enhanced interoperability.
The navy organized a ceremony at the dockyard in Karachi to welcome PNS Babur upon its arrival on Wednesday, the Pakistan Navy said in a statement. Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi was the chief guest. 
“While addressing the ceremony, Commander Pakistan Fleet highlighted that PN MILGEM class corvettes will significantly enhance Pakistan Navy’s capability of safeguarding maritime frontiers,” the navy said.




In this handout combination of photos, taken and released by Pakistan Navy, Commander Pakistan Fleet Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi (left) addresses the crew of Pakistan Naval Ship Babur at the Karachi Naval Dockyard in Karachi on June 26, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Pakistan Navy)

 “And reinforce the initiative of Pakistan Navy for independently conducting regional maritime security patrols of the Indian Ocean region.”
Abbasi emphasized that the MILGEM class project is a manifestation of Pakistan and Turkiye’s defense cooperation.
The two countries jointly launched PNS Babur last year, which is part of a four-vessel deal between Islamabad and Ankara.
Turkiye announced in 2017 the two countries had signed a memorandum of understanding for the sale of four Turkish-made corvette warships and 52 Pakistan-made training planes for Ankara’s armed forces. 
Ankara described it as Turkiye’s biggest single military export deal and “a very important day” for the defense industry. The contract was formally signed in 2018.
Under the deal, the Karachi Shipyard (KS&EW) would buy four corvettes made under Turkiye’s MILGEM warship program, aimed at designing and building locally a fleet of multipurpose corvettes and frigates that could replace older ships. 
As per the 2018 contract, two of the ships were to be manufactured in Istanbul and two in Karachi.

Topics: Pakistan Navy

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Pakistan’s Astore Markhor trophy hunting permit fetches whopping $107,000

Pakistan’s Astore Markhor trophy hunting permit fetches whopping $107,000
Updated 1 min 31 sec ago
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Pakistan’s Astore Markhor trophy hunting permit fetches whopping $107,000

Pakistan’s Astore Markhor trophy hunting permit fetches whopping $107,000
  • Permits for four Astore Markhors, 14 blue sheep and 88 ibexes auctioned by GB’s wildlife department, says official 
  • Pakistan’s national animal, markhors are found in country’s northern areas at heights of 8,000-11,000 feet
Updated 1 min 31 sec ago
Nisar Ali

KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: The Gilgit-Baltistan Parks and Wildlife Department auctioned trophy hunting permits for more than 100 endangered animals on Wednesday, with the long-horned Astore Markhor goat’s permit fetching the highest bid of $107,000, an official confirmed. 

The enormous license fee to kill the rare markhor, a long-horned goat native to Pakistan’s northern GB region and found in its snowy northern mountains, is one of the highest in the world. The trophy hunting season begins on Nov. 1 and ends on Apr. 31 for the 2024-2025 season.

The trophy hunting program was first introduced by the government in GB’s Nagar Valley in 1990, attracting international hunters who have since been paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to target a limited number of wild animals in the area. The program was later extended to different areas of GB.

Trophy hunting is viewed worldwide as a controversial practice as it involves hunting rare animals for sport and displaying their parts as trophies. Conservationists and locals, however, argue that the trophy hunting program in northern Pakistan prevents poaching and empowers local communities as most of the funds from the activity are spent on their welfare.

“Four permits of Astore Markhors have been auctioned and the highest permit was sold today for $107,000,” Tariq Hussain, the spokesperson for GB’s wildlife department, told Arab News.

“In addition to the Astore Markhor, permits of 14 blue sheep and 88 ibexes were also auctioned.”

Hussain said 80 percent of the money collected from trophy hunting is provided to the local communities, who spend it on building hospitals and schools, adding that the remaining 20 percent is deposited into the national exchequer.

“The local community is also involved in this process,” Hussain said. “And they also help the government stop illegal hunting and poaching.”

Hussain said the trophy hunting program has led to an increase in the population of wild animals. An official of a tourist company and a local agreed. 

“We are involved in this program as a facilitator for the hunters and this year, we have bought four permits,” Sultan Muhammad, chief executive officer of Travel Adventure Pakistan, told Arab News over the phone. 

He said only male and old animals are hunted in the program, which was why their population had increased. 

“Locals are also guardians of the wild animals since they get 80 percent of the share from the money received from trophy hunting,” Muhammad explained. 

Shabbir Hussain, a resident of GB’s Gojal valley, said previously markhors were “on the brink of extinction.”

“However, after this program, locals have also joined hands with the government and are playing their role to protect animals,” Shabbir Hussain said. 

He said locals were utilizing 80 percent of the amount they were receiving for the trophy hunting program. 

“We have established a girls’ hostel in Gilgit for students, guest houses and are providing scholarships for the students of our area from this money,” Shabbir Hussain said.

“We, the locals of Gojal valley have also bought 500 kanal of lands in Islamabad from the trophy hunting money. We are thankful to the government for launching this program.”

Topics: Astore Markhors markhor trophy hunting

Pakistani forces raid militant hideout, killing 8 in country’s northwest— police 

Pakistani forces raid militant hideout, killing 8 in country’s northwest— police 
Updated 30 October 2024
AP
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Pakistani forces raid militant hideout, killing 8 in country’s northwest— police 

Pakistani forces raid militant hideout, killing 8 in country’s northwest— police 
  • Local militant commander believed to be among people killed during operation in Bannu, say police
  • Authorities often carry out operations against Pakistani Taliban in KP province bordering Afghanistan
Updated 30 October 2024
AP

 PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Pakistani security forces backed by military helicopters raided a militant hideout in a former stronghold of insurgents in a restive province bordering Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing eight suspects, police said.

A local militant commander was believed to be among the people killed in the operation in Bannu, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local police official Zahid Ullah said.

He provided no further details, and it was unclear whether there were any casualties among the security forces.

Authorities often carry out such operations against the Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP and are an ally of the Afghan Taliban but are a separate group.

The TTP has stepped up its assaults in the region since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.

Government forces have also intensified their operations against the TTP and other insurgents, including separatist groups based in the restive southwestern Balochistan province.

Topics: Militants in Pakistan Pakistani Taliban

Pakistan reports 43rd polio case this year amid alarming surge in infection

Pakistan reports 43rd polio case this year amid alarming surge in infection
Updated 30 October 2024
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Pakistan reports 43rd polio case this year amid alarming surge in infection

Pakistan reports 43rd polio case this year amid alarming surge in infection
  • Latest poliovirus case reported from the southwestern Chagai district in Balochistan
  • Pakistan launched nationwide campaign this week to vaccinate over 45 million children
Updated 30 October 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: Pakistan reported its 43rd poliovirus case of the year on Wednesday with the latest infection reported from the southwestern Balochistan province, the country’s national polio program confirmed, as Islamabad struggles to contain an alarming surge of the disease. 

The latest case was reported from the southwestern Chagai district in Balochistan, where a child contracted the disease. 

This makes it the first poliovirus case reported from the Chagai district this year and Balochistan’s 23rd. The development takes place as Pakistan launched a nationwide campaign on Monday to vaccinate over 45 million children against polio.

“On Wednesday, 30 October 2024, the lab confirmed detection of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus in a child from Chagai District of Balochistan,” Pakistan’s polio eradication program said in a statement. 

Giving a breakdown of the cases, the program said Pakistan has reported 23 polio cases from Balochistan, 12 from the southern Sindh province, six from the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one each from Punjab and Islamabad this year.

Polio has caused a headache for Islamabad as Pakistan remains one of only two countries worldwide where the disease is endemic.

Its efforts to eliminate the disease have been hit hard by frequent militant attacks targeting vaccination teams. Religiously motivated militants, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, accuse polio vaccination teams of using inoculation campaigns to sterilize Pakistani children based on a Western conspiracy. 

The masses’ doubts regarding polio campaigns were exacerbated in 2011 when the US Central Intelligence Agency set up a fake vaccination program to gather intelligence on former Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

Two police officers were killed and three militants gunned down in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday after armed men attacked a polio vaccination team during an inoculation drive. 

This followed a September attack in which two people were killed when gunmen attacked a polio vaccination team in the northwestern Bajaur tribal district.

Topics: Polio anti-polio program

Bosnia arrests 8 for trafficking illegal migrants from Pakistan, India, among other nations

Bosnia arrests 8 for trafficking illegal migrants from Pakistan, India, among other nations
Updated 30 October 2024
AFP
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Bosnia arrests 8 for trafficking illegal migrants from Pakistan, India, among other nations

Bosnia arrests 8 for trafficking illegal migrants from Pakistan, India, among other nations
  • Human ring smuggled at least 1,400 migrants to Italy, authorities say 
  • Bosnia lies along “Balkan route” migrants regularly use to reach Europe
Updated 30 October 2024
AFP

SARAJEVO: Bosnian police arrested eight people suspected of being part of a human trafficking ring that smuggled at least 1,400 illegal migrants to Italy, authorities said on Wednesday.

“Members of the criminal group organized the trafficking of at least 1,400 illegal migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Eritrea and China,” Dragana Kerkez, a spokeswoman for the interior ministry in Bosnia’s Serb-run statelet, told AFP.

The eight suspects were arrested in several towns across northern Bosnia during an operation carried out in cooperation with Europol and Croatian, Slovenian and Italian police.

During the raids, police also seized weapons, over 100,000 marks ($55,000) and used cars and boats, the spokeswoman said, adding that the group was also suspected of trafficking drugs.

The group used the Sky ECC encrypted communications network system, which was cracked in 2019 by a team of Belgian, Dutch and French investigators.

That gave authorities unprecedented access to the information on the practices of some of the most dangerous criminal groups, including ones in the Balkans.

Bosnia lies along the so-called “Balkan route” that migrants regularly use to reach the European Union.

According to Kerkez, the group trafficked migrants by first taking them to neighboring Croatia.

From there, they were transported in cars and trucks to Italy, she added.

Bosnian and Croatian authorities regularly arrest human traffickers in an ongoing crackdown hoping to stem the surge of migrants heading to the EU.

During the first nine months of the year, 1,430 migrant smugglers were arrested in Croatia, according to official figures — marking a nearly 40-percent increase compared with the same period last year.

In August, 12 migrants died when their boat capsized as they tried to cross a river between Bosnia and Serbia.

Topics: Bosnia human trafficking

Pakistan expresses solidarity with Spain as torrential rains, floods kill 62 

Pakistan expresses solidarity with Spain as torrential rains, floods kill 62 
Updated 30 October 2024
Shahjahan Khurram  
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Pakistan expresses solidarity with Spain as torrential rains, floods kill 62 

Pakistan expresses solidarity with Spain as torrential rains, floods kill 62 
  • Heavy storms in Spain’s southern and eastern regions since Tuesday have triggered flash floods
  • Spain has deployed over 1,000 soldiers in affected areas to coordinate rescue efforts for citizens
Updated 30 October 2024
Shahjahan Khurram  

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed solidarity with Spain as flash floods triggered by torrential rains killed at least 62 people in the country, local authorities said.

Heavy rains triggered floods in southern and eastern Spain on Tuesday, with footage on social media showing cars being swept away by raging waters. 

Over 1,000 soldiers from Spain’s emergency response units have been deployed in affected areas to coordinate rescue efforts, Spanish media reports said. 

“On behalf of the people and government of Pakistan, I extend our deepest sympathies and solidarity to the people of Spain and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez following the tragic floods and loss of life,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X. 

“Pakistan stands in solidarity with friendly people of Spain at this challenging time.”

Spain’s Valencia has been the hardest-hit province in the country. Emergency services in the province urged citizens to avoid any road travel and to follow further updates from official sources.

As the crisis looms, Sánchez said the government would not abandon those affected by the floods. 

“All of Spain weeps with all of you,” he said during a televised address. “Our absolute priority is to help you… We won’t abandon you.”

Pakistan is ranked consistently as one of the world’s worst affected countries due to climate change effects. Heavy monsoon rains in 2022 killed over 1,700 people and caused damages over $30 billion to the South Asian country. 

Topics: Spain floods Spain floods

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