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Pakistan demands probe into ‘theft and illicit sale’ of nuclear materials in India

Pakistan demands probe into ‘theft and illicit sale’ of nuclear materials in India
Police officers stand guard at the main entry gate of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Islamabad on January 18, 2024. (AP/File)
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Updated 13 August 2024
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Pakistan demands probe into ‘theft and illicit sale’ of nuclear materials in India

Pakistan demands probe into ‘theft and illicit sale’ of nuclear materials in India
  • Foreign Office hints at the existence of black market for sensitive materials in the neighboring state
  • It questions India’s nuclear safety after arrests of smugglers with highly radioactive Californium stone
Updated 13 August 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday demanded a probe into the instances of “theft and illicit sale” of nuclear materials in neighboring India following the arrest of a gang found in illegal possession of a dangerous radioactive substance worth $100 million.

An Indian media report said on Friday the police had arrested three smugglers in the western Gopalganj district of Bihar with a rare Californium stone which is highly radioactive and fetches a high price in the international market.

Californium is a chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. It is a radioactive and metallic element with a silvery appearance.

India has witnessed similar incidents in the past, where at least three instances were reported in May, June and August of 2021 when the authorities seized uranium and other radioactive material from gangs whose members were arrested in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Kolkata.

“Pakistan is gravely concerned at the reports of recurring incidents of theft and illicit sale of nuclear and other radioactive materials in India,” foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement in response to a media query.

“Pakistan reiterates its call for a thorough investigation of these incidents and for adequate measures to prevent their recurrence,” she continued. “In the latest incident, a gang of individuals were found in illegal possession of a highly radioactive and toxic substance Californium, worth $100 million in quantity.”

While referring to the 2021 incidents, she highlighted that Indian authorities arrested five persons with a radioactive device last month that was reportedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center.

Baloch said the recurring incidents posed a question about the measures taken by New Delhi to ensure the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive materials, adding these incidents suggested the “existence of a black market for sensitive and dual-use materials inside India.”

The foreign office spokesperson noted the international community sought an “earnest disclosure” from the Indian authorities over how a sealed radioactive source material like Californium was found in the possession of the arrested individuals.

She noted it was dangerous for such sensitive material to routinely fall into the wrong hands in India.

Topics: Pakistan Imran Khan Bushra Bibi

Pakistani blasphemy suspect's family forgives police officer accused of killing him

Pakistani blasphemy suspect's family forgives police officer accused of killing him
Updated 20 sec ago
Reuters
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Pakistani blasphemy suspect's family forgives police officer accused of killing him

Pakistani blasphemy suspect's family forgives police officer accused of killing him
  • Abdul Ali, 52, was shot dead last week in a heavily fortified police station in Quetta
  • Killer was a police office who had accessed facility by pretending to be Ali's relative
Updated 20 sec ago
Reuters

QUETTA:  The family of a blasphemy suspect killed in custody in southwestern Pakistan has forgiven the police officer accused of killing him, saying they would not press charges “in the name of God.”

Abdul Ali, 52, also known as Sakhi Lala, was shot dead last week in a heavily fortified police station in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, by police officer Saayd Mohammad Sarhadi, who had accessed the facility by pretending to be Ali’s relative, police said.

“We will not fight the case,” Ali’s son Muhammad Usman told a press conference late on Wednesday, sitting with another brother and some elders from his tribal clan. “We have forgiven the police officer in the name of God.”

One of the elders, Faizullah Noorzai, said the tribe would disown Ali. “We and our families are the kind of people who would sacrifice their lives for the sake of the Prophet Muhammad and his respect.”

Blasphemy is punishable by death in predominantly Muslim Pakistan. No one has been executed by the state for the crime, but dozens of those accused have been lynched by mobs before trial.

Such killings are often glorified. The father of Ali’s alleged killer, Hajji Daad Muhammad, has been receiving visitors paying their respects at his house since last week’s killing.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom says the South Asian country is one of the world’s strictest and most frequent enforcers of blasphemy laws.

Blasphemy accusations fueled mobs that attacked Christian neighborhoods in the eastern province of Punjab, burning several churches and displacing hundreds of people last year.

A court will consider the plea by Ali’s family for a pardon and decide whether to proceed with charging the officer, said a senior police officer who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Ali’s alleged blasphemy centered on an argument he had had about politics and the Prophet Muhammad, according to a police investigator. He had been moved to the more secure police station after hundreds gathered outside the facility where he was initially detained, chanting that they wanted to kill him publicly.

Topics: Pakistan blasphemy Pakistan

Pakistan PM to attend UN General Assembly session from September 23-27

Pakistan PM to attend UN General Assembly session from September 23-27
Updated 27 min 21 sec ago
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Pakistan PM to attend UN General Assembly session from September 23-27

Pakistan PM to attend UN General Assembly session from September 23-27
  • PM will emphasize the importance of addressing issues on Security Council’s agenda, including Palestine and Kashmir
  • Pakistan says it expects India to remain committed to the Indus Water Treaty, the ‘gold standard’ of bilateral accords
Updated 27 min 21 sec ago
SAIMA SHABBIR

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will participate in the high-level segment of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York from September 23 to 27, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Thursday.
Each September, world leaders and delegates gather at the UN Headquarters in New York to discuss the most pressing global issues within the framework of the UN Charter. The UNGA opened the 79th session on September 10, with the high-level general debate scheduled to begin on September 24 and conclude on September 30.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will participate in the high-level segment for the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York from 23rd to 27th of September,” the foreign office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, said during her weekly news briefing in Islamabad.
She noted that Sharif would be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior government officials.
In his address to the world body, the prime minister will emphasize the importance of addressing longstanding issues on the Security Council’s agenda, including the question of Palestine and the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, she added.
“The prime minister will attend several high-level meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA session including the high-level meeting on existential threat posed by sea level rise and the UN Security Council’s open debate on leadership for peace,” she said, adding that his program would also include bilateral meetings with world leaders and members of the Pakistani diaspora.
INDUS WATER TREATY
Asked about the notice sent by India to Pakistan under Article 33 of the Indus Water Treaty, calling for the reassessment of the agreement on a bilateral basis, Baloch said Pakistan expected India to remain committed to the accord.
India sent a notice to Pakistan on August 30, requesting a review of the water-distribution mechanism outlined in the treaty, signed by the two countries on September 19, 1960, citing “fundamental and unforeseen” changes in circumstances.
The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, grants India control over the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers, while Pakistan controls the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers. Both nations can seek arbitration from the World Bank in case of any water disputes.
In 2016, Pakistan requested arbitration over India’s Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower projects. While India claims its water usage complies with the treaty, Pakistan opposes some of these projects, arguing they violate the agreement, which is crucial for its agriculture as 80 percent of the country relies on the Indus River.
“The Indus Waters Treaty is an important treaty that has served both Pakistan and India well over the last several decades,” Baloch said, adding that Pakistan believed it was a “gold standard” of bilateral treaties on water sharing.
“Pakistan is fully committed to its implementation, and we expect India to also remain committed to the treaty,” she added.
The spokesperson said Pakistan believes it is a collective responsibility to maintain ecological balance, protect the environment, and avoid measures that may have adverse implications for the region’s climate.
“The two countries have a mechanism of water commissioners, and we believe all issues pertaining to this treaty can be discussed in this mechanism,” she added.
PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL ANTHEM
Responding to a query about the incident of purported disrespect toward Pakistan’s national anthem during a ceremony in Peshawar by an Afghan diplomat, Baloch said Pakistan had rejected the explanation the acting consul general provided for his actions and lodged a strong protest with Afghan authorities.
Videos circulated on social media showed Afghan Consul General Mohibullah Shakir seated while the Pakistani anthem was played during a religious conference, as others stood in respect. According to a representative of the Afghan diplomatic mission, Shakir had no intention of disrespecting Pakistan, explaining that he did not stand because of the background music.
He further maintained that Afghan authorities had banned their own national anthem for the same reason.
The Afghan Taliban believe music is forbidden in Islam, though several schools of thought within the same religion do not agree with their stance.
“We have raised this issue with the Afghan authorities and conveyed our strong displeasure on this and we also reject the explanation that the acting council general has given for his actions,” Baloch said, adding that Pakistan believed this action had hurt the sentiments of its people.
Asked about a media report suggesting that Shakir had been staying in Pakistan without valid documentation, she said, according to available data, the acting Afghan consul general was in possession of a valid visa and enjoyed diplomatic status.
She also mentioned Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani’s recent termination from his position, saying such appointments were made by the government based on the country’s requirements at specific times.
“Ambassador Asif Durrani was appointed as Special Representative of Pakistan for Afghanistan in May 2021 and after serving three years in this position, the government has decided to terminate his contract,” she said, adding it had been done in keeping with the present requirements.
“No decision has been made so far on his replacement,” she added.

Topics: Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif UN General Assembly UNGA

Pakistan benchmark share index hits all-time high

Pakistan benchmark share index hits all-time high
Updated 49 min 31 sec ago
Reuters
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Pakistan benchmark share index hits all-time high

Pakistan benchmark share index hits all-time high
  • Benchmark share index climbs 1.9 percent during intraday trading on expectations of substantive monetary easing
  • Pakistan’s stock market has gained some 13 percent since government passed a reform-heavy budget in June 
Updated 49 min 31 sec ago
Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s benchmark share index hit a record high on Thursday, climbing 1.9 percent in intraday trading, on expectations of further substantive monetary easing to spur economic growth.

The central bank has cut its key policy rate by a total of 450 basis points to 17.5 percent in three successive policy decisions since late July, taking heart as inflation eases.

Pakistan’s stock market hit an all-time high of 82,003 points and was trading at 81,800 as of 1:25 p.m. local time (08:25 GMT). It has gained some 13 percent since the government passed a economic reform-heavy budget in June aimed at securing a new International Monetary Fund program.

“Today’s market rise is reflective of the t-bill auction that happened on Wednesday where the government rejected bids in all tenors indicating a large rate cut in November,” said Ismail Iqbal Securities CEO Ahfaz Mustafa.

Pakistan’s central bank said disinflation was faster than expected and there was a possibility that average inflation for the fiscal year ending mid-2025 would fall below its forecast range of 11.5–13.5 percent.

“This coupled with the recent news of the IMF program and an expectation for inflation to slow to about 8 percent for September is all adding to the market making new intraday highs,” Mustafa added.

The IMF last week announced that its executive board will meet to discuss Pakistan’s $7 billion bailout program on Sept. 25 — allaying fears of a prolonged delay in much-needed funds for the country.

The South Asian nation struck a staff-level agreement with the global lender in June, but board approval for the 37-month program has been pending since then. 

Topics: Pakistan Pakistan economy Pakistan Stock Exchange

Pakistan defeats Brazil to win Karate Light Heavyweight Championship in Singapore

Pakistan defeats Brazil to win Karate Light Heavyweight Championship in Singapore
Updated 19 September 2024
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Pakistan defeats Brazil to win Karate Light Heavyweight Championship in Singapore

Pakistan defeats Brazil to win Karate Light Heavyweight Championship in Singapore
  • Shahzaib Rind from southwestern Balochistan beats Brazilian Luiz Victor Rocha in final match
  • Pakistan diplomat Rabia Shafiq congratulates Rind for a “smashing fight and historic victory“
Updated 19 September 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has won the World Karate Combat Light Heavyweight Championship, state media reported on Thursday, as Shahzaib Rind beat Brazil’s Luiz Victor Rocha in the final in Singapore.
The World Karate Combat is a professional martial arts league which hosts events around the world, showcasing bouts between fighters from different weight classes and countries. The Light Heavyweight Championship is a specific weight class typically for fighters weighing between 175 to 205 pounds (79 to 93 kg).
“Pakistan’s Shahzaib Rind from Balochistan has won the World Karate Combat Light Heavyweight Championship in Singapore,” Radio Pakistan said on Thursday. “He defeated his Brazilian rival Luiz Victor Rocha in the final.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Singapore, Rabia Shafiq, congratulated Rind for the “smashing fight and historic victory” at the Karate Combat Singapore. 
“You have done us all proud. Keep reaching new heights, champ! Shout out to Pakistanis in Singapore for a massive show of support,” she said in a post on the social media site X.


Earlier this year, Pakistan edged India out 2-1 in the Karate Combat 45 competition in Dubai, with an “unstoppable” Rind convincingly beating India’s Rana Singh to seal the win. 
The fixture between the arch-rival neighbors was a much awaited one, especially due to the pre-match hype between fighters of the two countries.

Topics: shahzaib rind Karate Combat 45

Four security personnel killed in two separate attacks in northwest Pakistan

Four security personnel killed in two separate attacks in northwest Pakistan
Updated 19 September 2024
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Four security personnel killed in two separate attacks in northwest Pakistan

Four security personnel killed in two separate attacks in northwest Pakistan
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed attacks on police and security personnel, along with polio vaccination teams
  • The two attacks took place in Karak and North Waziristan districts, close to Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan
Updated 19 September 2024
REHMAT MEHSUD

PESHAWAR: Almost a week after police protested against militant attacks in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, four security personnel were killed in a targeted attack and a gunbattle with armed factions in the region on Thursday, confirmed police officials.
The first incident occurred in Karak, a southern district of the province, where unidentified assailants on a motorbike gunned down an official of the paramilitary Levies Force, an ill-equipped outfit, earlier in the day.
“Unidentified gunmen shot dead the Levies Force official in the center of the district after he left his home for duty,” Shaukat Khan, a police spokesperson in Karak district, told Arab News over the phone.
He informed that a police contingent arrived at the crime scene to gather evidence and trace the killers.
In another incident, three security personnel lost their lives in an exchange of fire with militants in North Waziristan’s Boya village near the border with Afghanistan.
“We have information of an exchange of fire near Boya in which three security personnel lost their lives,” Murad Khan, an official deployed at the police control room in the area, told Arab News.
KP, which borders Afghanistan, has witnessed numerous attacks on police, security personnel and anti-polio vaccination teams in recent months, along with kidnappings of civil and military officials.
Only a week ago, police in the volatile district of Lakki Marwat called off their days-long protest, condemning a spike in militant attacks and targeted killings of police officials.
Last week, unidentified gunmen opened fire on police guards escorting a polio vaccination team, killing one of them.
The Pakistan Army has a heavy presence across the province, where it has been battling militants from Al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban and other groups for nearly two decades.
There have been protests in several districts of KP since July, when Pakistan’s cabinet announced a new military operation amid a surge in terror attacks across the country.
People in KP have rejected plans for an armed operation and demand that civilian agencies like the police and the counter-terrorism department be better equipped.
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attacks so far, but officials in Islamabad say militants associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are primarily responsible for violence against the police and security personnel.
Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for “facilitating” anti-Pakistan militants, a charge Kabul denies.

Topics: Pakistan Army Karak

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