The Balochistan government has decided to intensify its efforts to preserve forests and maintain tree cover across the province. Members of civil society emphasized the critical need for swift and practical actions by the provincial authorities to safeguard rare species and uphold environmental sustainability. Aziz Ullah, an environmentalist, highlighted the detrimental impact of illegal logging of ancient trees on Balochistan’s ecosystem. He called for urgent measures to halt this destructive practice. During the harsh winter months in Balochistan, locals resort to cutting down ancient trees such as Juniper, Palos, and Olive. They cut them down for firewood. This led to…
Author: Web Desk2
Two soldiers died while the Pakistan Army eliminated eight attackers in Gawadar who tried to breach the Gwadar Port Authority Colony, as per the military’s public relations department. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that a group of eight terrorists tried to infiltrate the Port Authority Colony. However, security, personnel successfully repelled them. In swift response, security forces engaged the terrorists, resulting in the elimination of all eight assailants. They seized a substantial cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives during the operation, the ISPR noted. Sepoy Bahar Khan, aged 35 and hailing from Dera Ghazi Khan, along with Sepoy…
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif disclosed the dismissal of Afghan nationals. He said two officers were expelled from the Pakistani Army as part of the country’s crackdown on illegal immigrants. Asif highlighted that the majority of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists reside in Afghanistan. He further said some were resettled in Pakistan during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. He mentioned briefing the National Assembly on this matter. Asif clarified that while there has been no recent influx of Afghan nationals at the state level, infiltration attempts by militants persist. The minister underscored the porous Pak-Afghan border, explaining how individuals can easily cross…
Pakistan’s military launched airstrikes within Afghan territory, prompting a stern warning from the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan about potential repercussions. These airstrikes followed a deadly attack in northwest Pakistan. It claimed the lives of seven soldiers, sparking a blame game between the neighboring countries over responsibility for the attacks. The Taliban accused Pakistan of targeting civilian homes in provinces near the border. This resulted in casualties, a claim initially met with silence from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs until later confirmation. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the airstrikes and cautioned about the potential adverse consequences beyond Pakistan’s control. He urged…
The World Bank has revised its assessment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Human Capital Investment Project (KPHCIP), valued at $200 million, due to delays in its implementation. Official records indicate that the current progress towards achieving the Project Development Objective (PDO) and the implementation status are both moderately unsatisfactory. As of January 12, 2024, $31.76 million disbursed for the KPHCIP, which represents approximately 16 percent of the total project funds. Initial delays and recent downgrades in performance are attributed to prolonged approvals of the revised Planning Commission Proforma—Project Initiation Document (PC-1), along with a downgrade in the Environmental Safeguards rating. Approved…
On Monday, Pakistan struck terrorists in Afghanistan via “intelligence-based” aerial strikes. The strikes were aimed at punishing the “terrorists” responsible for the deaths of civilians and security forces in cross-border raids. The operation specifically targeted fugitive commanders associated with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a globally designated terrorist organization based in Afghan sanctuaries. Afghanistan’s Taliban government denounced the strikes, claiming that eight civilians, mostly women and children, were killed. However, the identities of the deceased could not be independently verified. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that it had repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to take action against terrorism and the use of Afghan…
The directive from the federal interior ministry to the Punjab government signals the commencement of the second phase of a deportation operation aimed at addressing the presence of Afghan citizen card holders in the region, set to begin on April 15. This decision underscores the ongoing efforts to manage migration and address security concerns in the province. In a significant development, a video conference convened by Federal Interior Secretary Aftab Durrani, in collaboration with Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin and other key officials. It served as a platform to outline the strategy for the upcoming phase of the deportation operation.…
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif asserted that terrorism against Pakistan is emanating from Afghanistan. Militants are utilizing Afghan territory to perpetrate attacks within Pakistan, following the loss of seven army personnel, including two officers, in a terrorist assault the previous day. In a media address in Sialkot on Sunday, he emphasized, “Terrorism against us originates mostly from Afghanistan.” The casualties occurred during a terrorist assault on a security forces post in North Waziristan district on Saturday. Pakistan has consistently accused Afghan authorities of failing to act against terrorist organizations, including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating on Afghan soil and conducting…
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is considering the establishment of a new special security force for permanent deployment at sensitive installations in the province. This proposal, known as the “Security Division,” was discussed in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur. Attendees included Provincial Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chauhdry, Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Mohammad Abid Majeed, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan, administrative secretaries, and police officials. The meeting focused on the overall law and order situation in the province. An official statement from the Chief Minister’s…
Afghanistan has been facing an economic crisis for over two years, with food insecurity looming day by day. “The situation is deteriorating every day,” Ahmad, a former journalist in Herat, Afghanistan, told me. “I don’t think anyone can afford to buy sufficient food anymore.” Afghanistan has been facing an economic crisis for over two years, following the reduction of foreign funding by donors in response to the Taliban takeover in 2021. Additionally, Afghanistan’s Central Bank faced sanction from the international system. The Taliban’s violations of women’s rights, particularly in employment, education, and freedom of movement, have worsened the situation. The…