Chaman Protests have brought life in the border town of Chaman to a standstill for nearly two weeks. The protests, sparked by new border crossing regulations and actions by security forces, have forced the closure of public and private banks. Offices like the passport office, deputy commissioner, and Customs have been shut since earlier this month. This shutdown followed clashes between protesters and security forces. Protesters, including traders, political leaders, and daily wage workers, have blocked the Quetta-Chaman national highway. This crucial highway connects Pakistan with Afghanistan. Hundreds of trucks and vehicles loaded with goods for Afghan transit trade are…
Author: Muhammad Idrees
Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border has ignited widespread speculation. Many believe his demise was an assassination. They suspect Israel, Iran’s arch-enemy, played a role in this fatal incident. Nick Griffin’s Perspective Nick Griffin, a former Member of the European Parliament, suggested that beyond the obvious Gaza, Hezbollah, and Iran-Israel tensions, Mossad (Israel’s national intelligence agency) could be involved. He remarked, “It would not be a surprise…”. On X, Griffin pointed out that Raisi and his Azerbaijani counterpart had recently inaugurated the Qiz Qalasi hydroelectric dam. This project was hailed as a symbol of “long-term…
An audit report has revealed staggering irregularities amounting to Rs2.4 billion in Balochistan Dam Project. The Balochistan Dam Project has to construct of 100 dams in Balochistan. The audit report highlighted significant delays, with only 26 out of the planned 100 dams completed by 2021. Originally, the completion was scheduled for 2018. This delay led to an increase in construction costs by Rs261 million. The audit report also noted that expenses for the project implementation unit and supervision soared by Rs133.6 million. Additionally, an extra payment of Rs112.6 million was made to non-shareholders. Contractors were also found to be undercharged…
Mohammad Mokhber will lead Iran after a tragic helicopter crash killed President Ebrahim Raisi and his Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The helicopter, carrying top officials, crashed while navigating mountainous terrain in heavy fog. They were en route to Tabriz after inaugurating the Qiz Qalasi Dam on the Iranian-Azerbaijani border. Under the Iranian constitution, the death of a sitting president triggers specific protocols. Mohammad Mokhber, the First Vice President, will assume the presidency in an interim capacity. He is 69 years old and has close ties to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Mohammad Mokhber is a seasoned political figure with significant influence…
The Iranian threat to US elections is becoming more serious. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has warned that Tehran is set to ramp up its cyber and influence activities. “Iran is becoming increasingly aggressive in their efforts,” Haines told the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. “They seek to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions, as we have seen them do in prior election cycles.” Foreign interference has been a concern in recent US elections. Since 2016, ‘Russian meddling’ has been a major issue, with both parties accusing each other of benefiting from it. In his…
How to stop terrorism in Balochistan was a crucial topic in Sarfraz Bugti’s address at the closing ceremony of the two-day Pakistan Literature Festival 2024 (Quetta chapter). Organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan, the event saw Bugti discussing pressing issues. The CM expressed concern, stating, “We are the only nation in the world that even kills its own educators.” He questioned how progress in education is possible and reflected on the tragic killing of Professor Nazima Talib in April 2009. “Today, health and education are lost,” he said, adding, “We have destroyed this entire system ourselves; the people of…
Gaza is at the center of a crucial hearing today at the World Court. South Africa is urging the International Court of Justice to implement emergency measures to halt Israel’s onslaught in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. Judges were informed that the Palestinian population faces “ongoing annihilation.” South Africa is demanding protection for Rafah, where over a million Palestinians are sheltering. They also seek to ensure that UN officials, humanitarian organizations, journalists, and investigators have unrestricted access to Gaza. South Africa argues that Israel has continuously ignored and violated previous court orders. Vaughan Lowe, South Africa’s legal representative, addressed…
Amidst escalating tensions over persistent power outages, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, issued a stark ultimatum to the federal government on Wednesday. With frustration mounting over the prolonged energy crisis plaguing the province, Gandapur vowed to take decisive action if the issue remained unresolved. Demand for Immediate Action In a video message addressing the pressing concerns, Chief Minister Gandapur minced no words as he demanded immediate attention from the federal authorities. Expressing dismay over the lack of progress in resolving the power outages, he underscored the urgent need for a fresh loadshedding schedule to be issued without delay.…
In response to Iran’s military support for Russia’s war on Ukraine and armed groups in the Middle East, the EU Council has announced an expansion of restrictive measures against Iran. These measures aim to target individuals and entities involved in supplying, selling, or transferring Iran’s missiles and UAVs. The EU Council stated that the framework, adopted in July 2023, currently prohibits the export of components used in the construction and production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from the EU to Iran. It also provides for travel restrictions and asset freeze measures against persons responsible for supporting or involved in Iran’s…
Afghanistan’s Shia Scholars Advocate for Inclusive Governance by Islamic Emirate. In Afghanistan, Shia scholars are urging the Islamic Emirate to lead the nation without bias, ensuring fairness for all citizens. These scholars, speaking during a program called “The Role of Scholars in the Spiritual Life of Muslims,” emphasized the need for an Islamic system that respects diversity. “The leaders of the Islamic Emirate and scholars in positions of authority must uphold Islamic principles without prejudice or personal biases,” emphasized Bazel, a respected religious figure. Misbah, another scholar, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of societal elements for spiritual growth and…