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Islamabad, Baku seek deeper military ties during Azerbaijan visit by top Pakistani general

Islamabad, Baku seek deeper military ties during Azerbaijan visit by top Pakistani general
Pakistan’s General Sahir Shamshad Mirza in a meeting with Azerbaijan’s president and its senior civil and military leadership during his visit to the country on October 30, 2024. (APP)
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Updated 30 October 2024
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Islamabad, Baku seek deeper military ties during Azerbaijan visit by top Pakistani general

Islamabad, Baku seek deeper military ties during Azerbaijan visit by top Pakistani general
  • General Shamshad Mirza meets Azerbaijan president to discuss regional security dynamics
  • Pakistan has always been vocal in its support for Azerbaijan in its conflict against rival Armenia 
Updated 30 October 2024
Hasaan Ali Khan
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s General Sahir Shamshad Mirza on Wednesday discussed enhancing defense ties and the evolving regional dynamics as he met Azerbaijan’s president and its senior civil and military leadership during his visit to the country, the army’s media wing said. 

Pakistan and Azerbaijan have been enjoying cordial diplomatic ties since 1992, with the two countries having a shared history of cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, defense, and energy. 

In July, both governments signed 15 agreements in various fields including transit trade, mineral resources and tourism during Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev’s two-day visit to the South Asian country.

“During the interaction, both sides appreciated deep and historic relations between the two countries and discussed matters of mutual interest including evolving security dynamics of the region and enhancement of existing defense ties in multiple domains,” the army’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Mirza met Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Col. General Hasanov Zakir Asgar, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Aziz Oghlu Bayramov, Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of General Staff Col. General Karim Tofig Oghlu Valiyev and the Defense Industry Minister Vugar Mustafayev, the ISPR added.

Highlighting the importance of military cooperation between both countries, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment toward peace and stability, the army’s media wing said. 

Azerbaijan’s leadership appreciated the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan’s armed forces and their professionalism, the ISPR said. 

Pakistan and Azerbaijan have a history of military and defense cooperation. In 2021, Pakistan participated in an eight-day joint military drill with Azerbaijan and Turkiye as part of their tripartite military cooperation agreement. 

Pakistan was also among two countries that provided support to Azerbaijan during the 44-day-long Second Karabakh War from September to November 2020, in which Azerbaijan fought against Armenian armed forces until the conclusion of a Russia-brokered truce. 

Topics: General Shamshad Mirza pakistan azerbaijan ties

Major among three soldiers killed in shootout with militants in northwest Pakistan

Major among three soldiers killed in shootout with militants in northwest Pakistan
Updated 24 sec ago
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Major among three soldiers killed in shootout with militants in northwest Pakistan

Major among three soldiers killed in shootout with militants in northwest Pakistan
  • Pakistan army says eight militants killed, seven injured during shootout in northwestern district Bannu 
  • Pakistan’s security forces often carry out such operations against the Pakistani Taliban in KP province
Updated 24 sec ago
Shahjahan Khurram

ISLAMABAD: An army major was among three soldiers killed during an intelligence-based operation in northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, the military’s media wing said, in a shootout that also resulted in the killing of eight militants. 

Security forces conducted the operation at the Bakka Khel area of KP’s volatile district Bannu on Oct. 30, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing, said in a statement. It said eight militants were killed while seven were injured during the exchange of fire between both sides. 

“Major Atif Khalil (age: 31 years, resident of District Sudhanuti, Azad Kashmir), a brave officer, who was leading his troops from the front, fought gallantly and embraced Shahadat [martyrdom] along with his two men,” the ISPR said. 

The other two soldiers killed alongside Major Khalil were Naik Azad Ullah, 36 and Lance Naik Ghazanfar Abbar, 35, the army’s media wing said. 

“Sanitization operation is being carried out to eliminate any other khwarji found in the area, as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the military said. 

Pakistan’s security forces often carry out such operations against the Pakistani Taliban, who are known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. The banned outfit is an ally of the Afghan Taliban but are a separate group.

The TTP have stepped up its assaults in Pakistan’s KP province since August 2021 after the Afghan Taliban seized power in Kabul and a fragile truce between the state and the TTP broke down in November 2022. 

Pakistan blames Afghanistan’s government for sheltering TTP militants, accusing Kabul of not doing enough to stamp out militants allegedly using Afghan soil to launch attacks against Pakistan. The Afghan government denies the allegations. 

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

Topics: Pakistan Army

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

Pakistan’s Astore Markhor trophy hunting permit fetches whopping $107,000
Updated 30 October 2024
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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 30 October 2024
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

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