Tag: terrorism

  • Seven Punjabi barbers killed in Gwadar

    Seven Punjabi barbers killed in Gwadar

    Seven people belonging to Punjab have been killed and one injured in an attack by unknown armed men in the Gwadar district of Balochistan.

    Police said that the unfortunate incident took place in the Sarbandar area of Gwadar. The dead and injured were barbers and belonged to Khanewal district of Punjab.

    The bodies have been sent for autopsy while the injured person has been shifted to Gwadar Hospital for medical assistance, the police told BBC.

    Sarbandar is a fishing village which is located approximately 25 kilometers east of Gwadar city towards Karachi. Gwadar district bordering Iran is a coastal district of Balochistan and since the deterioration of the situation in Balochistan, incidents of this kind of unrest have been happening in Gwadar as well.

    No one has yet accepted responsibility for this incident and SHO Mohsin Baloch informed BBC that an investigation is going on into various aspects of the incident.

    Earlier on April 13, 11 people, including nine people from Punjab, were killed and five were injured when Balochistan Liberation Army militants fired on a bus in the Nushki district of Balochistan.

    In the past, like other areas of Balochistan, Gwadar also witnessed attacks on workers and security forces and other incidents of unrest. In March this year, a major attack was carried out on the Gwadar Port Authority complex in Gwadar. The Majeed Brigade of the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack.

    Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Longo have condemned the killings in Gwadar and said that the killing of innocent labourers in Gwadar is terrorism.

  • US reassures Pakistan of its support to end terrorism

    US reassures Pakistan of its support to end terrorism

    The United States (US) has reassured Pakistan once again of its support to end terrorism in the country for the safety of citizens and protection of human rights, Geo reported on Wednesday.

    “We support Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and the protection of human rights,” US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press briefing.

  • Issue of missing person can’t be solved overnight, says law minister

    Issue of missing person can’t be solved overnight, says law minister

    Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Tuesday, in a press conference in Islamabad, that missing persons were involved in the Gwadar attack. He highlighted the struggle of the government to resolve the issue, but also emphasised that the problem can’t be resolved overnight.

    He also said that the issue of missing persons in Pakistan is closely linked with terrorism.

    Tarar disclosed that the Supreme Court (SC) has taken notice of the problem and has sent over 10,000 cases to the commission responsible for investigating missing persons. He said they’ve successfully resolved approximately 8,000 of these cases.

    During the press conference, he stressed that the government is aware of its responsibility on the issue and is making efforts to resolve it. He also stated that earlier in 2022, the coalition government formed a committee to handle the issue.

    Under the directive of the Prime Minister, efforts to address missing persons cases have been reignited, he added.

  • Counter Terrorism eliminates eight terrorists involved in attacks on customs officials in DI Khan

    The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) stated that eight terrorists, who were involved in multiple attacks on custom officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s district, Dera Ismail (DI) Khan, have been apprehended and killed.

    The CTD said in its statement that they killed one of the most wanted terrorists, Jahanzaib, during Monday’s operation in DI Khan.

    The eliminated terrorists were also involved in attacks on security forces and target killings.

    “The escape routes of the terrorists were blocked,” the CTD said, adding that there is a fear of the presence of facilitators of terrorists in the local population.

    “Strict action is also being taken against the facilitators,” the agency maintained.

  • US tells Taliban to stop terrorists from using Afghan soil

    US tells Taliban to stop terrorists from using Afghan soil

    The US State Department has supported Pakistan’s initiatives against terrorism and called on Taliban leaders to stop terrorists from using Afghanistan’s land.

    In a conversation with Geo News, a State Department spokesperson said, “We support Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and protection of human rights.”

    The spokesperson said that Pakistan suffers a lot due to terrorism, adding that no country should suffer this much due to terrorism.

    “We urge the Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil is not used to support terrorist groups, movement of terrorists, or acts of terrorism.

    “We have been very clear that we will judge the Taliban by what they do, not what they say. The Taliban wantsl international legitimacy. This requires the Taliban to meet their commitments to the international community,” the official said.

    The US state spokesperson also said that the only concern of the US was to make sure that Afghanistan is not a secure and comfortable place for terrorists who want to harm the US, its partners, and allies. 

    The official added, “We are in regular communication with Pakistani leaders as a part of our partnership on counterterrorism issues. We continue to discuss Afghanistan in detail, including through our annual counterterrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations.”

  • BLA releases video of Noshki target killing, militants roamed around freely

    BLA releases video of Noshki target killing, militants roamed around freely

    In a video released by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on April 15, terrorists can be seen roaming around with ease in the area and thoroughly checking the travellers in Quetta-Taftan Highway N-40, near Noshki.

    On April 13, nine people from Punjab and killed by the BLA militants after they stopped a bus and forced them off it.

    The gunmen checked the identity cards of passengers from the Taftan-bound bus and kidnapped them. They were subsequently shot dead.

    In the shocking footage, the militants easily moved on the road and kept inspecting all the vehicles and passengers.

    The footage was made from different angles. It also zoomed in and pointed to a Pakistan Military outpost and military camp nearby while the militants were conducting their operation.

    At the end of the video, the militants stopped two passenger buses and the in-video text showed “primary target” on a white bus. The other bus was let go and appallingly the video ended with the caption “ALL TARGETS NETRALISED”.

  • Five dead in Sydney shopping centre attack: police

    Five dead in Sydney shopping centre attack: police

    Five people were killed and several others injured — including a small child — when a knife-wielding attacker rampaged through a busy Sydney shopping centre on Saturday, Australian police said.

    Multiple people were stabbed by the unidentified assailant, who was shot dead by a policewoman at the scene.

    The incident occurred at the sprawling Westfield Bondi Junction mall complex, which was packed with Saturday afternoon shoppers.

    “I’m advised that there are five victims who are now deceased as a result of the actions of this offender,” said New South Wales police assistant commissioner Anthony Cooke.

    The motive was not immediately clear, but Cooke said “terrorism” could not be ruled out at this stage.

    “I do not know at this stage who he is. You would understand this is quite raw. Inquiries are very new and we are continuing to make attempts to identify the offender in this matter,” said Cooke.

    A New South Wales Ambulance spokesperson told AFP that eight patients were taken to various hospitals across Sydney, including a young child who was taken to the city’s Children’s Hospital.

    “They all have traumatic injuries,” the official said.

    Security camera footage broadcast by local media showed a man wearing an Australian rugby league jersey running around the shopping centre with a large knife and injured people lying lifeless on the floor.

    Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic, with shoppers scrambling to safety and police trying to secure the area.

    Several people took shelter in shops as they tried to protect themselves and their families.

    Pranjul Bokaria had just finished up work and was doing some shopping when the stabbing occurred.

    She ended up running to a nearby shop and taking shelter in a break room.

    “It was scary, there are some people who were emotionally vulnerable and crying,” she told AFP.

    She escaped using an emergency exit with other shoppers and staff, which took them to a back street.

    She described a scene of “chaos”, with people running, and police swarming the area.

    “I am alive and grateful,” she said.

    Reece Colmenares was on her way to the gym when she saw “people running and screaming” past her.

    She told AFP the people were saying someone had been stabbed so she ran into a nearby hardware shop with 10 to 12 other people

    “They took us down [to a room] and closed the shop,” she said.

    “It’s scary, there are little children and elderly and people in wheelchairs everywhere.”

    As night fell, dozens of police and ambulances were still outside the shopping complex, with stretchers ready to take people to nearby hospitals.

    The sound of police sirens and helicopters filled the air.

    The mall has been locked down and police have urged people to avoid the area.

    Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed Australians’ sadness and shock at the attack.

    “Tragically, multiple casualties have been reported and the first thoughts of all Australians are with those affected and their loved ones,” he wrote on social media platform X.

    Such attacks are virtually unheard of in Australia, which has relatively low rates of violent crime.

  • Serious lapses in security protocol of slain Chinese nationals

    Serious lapses in security protocol of slain Chinese nationals

    Since a tragic terror attack in Shangla claimed six lives including five Chinese citizens, a decision to constitute an investigative committee was taken by the government.

    The attack exposed serious lapses in the security detail of the Chinese engineers and a disregard for standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    The committee was shocked to find out that the bus carrying the Chinese officials was not bulletproof, let alone bombproof, which is the requirement under the security SOPs.

    It pointed out multiple significant flaws in the security detail due to which the incident took place.

    They further said the company “that was required to provide bullet- and bombproof vehicles to transport Chinese workers, and duly paid for, failed to meet its contractual obligations.”

    Moreover, according to the SOPs, the District Police Officer in Upper Kohistan was supposed to be informed about the movements of the foreign nationals in advance which did not happen.

  • Pakistan says no to talks with Taliban

    Pakistan says no to talks with Taliban

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has said that Pakistan is not engaged in peace talks with the proscribed group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), emphasising that neither does it plan to hold such talks in future.

    She remarked in a press briefing, “I will reiterate what we have said in the past. Pakistan is not holding any talks with the terrorist organisation, the TTP. We have no plans to hold these talks with TTP.”

    Recently, a video gained traction on social media showing the Afghan deputy interior minister advising Pakistan to resolve issues with TTP through talks because Pakistani military could not win this war. He also underscored that TTP does not enjoy public support at all that is why they should mediate with Pakistani authorities too.

    When asked about the Afghan minister’s comments, Baloch replied, “Islamabad expects the Afghan authorities to take action against these terror groups and their leadership for the crimes they are committing and terrorist attacks for which they are responsible in Pakistan.”

    The strong statement came after a terror attack in Shangla targeted Chinese nationals. CTD’s investigation hints that the attack was planned in Afghanistan.

  • Chinese company lays off 2000 workers on Tarbela dam project

    Chinese company lays off 2000 workers on Tarbela dam project

    A Chinese company working on the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project has suspended work indefinitely after the Shangla attack which took the lives of five Chinese nationals on Tuesday.

    The company laid off 2000 Pakistani workers that were employed for the hydro-project. The suspension notice was issued by administration of Power Construction Corporation of China.

    The Chinese engineers were targeted by a suicide bomber while they were travelling in a bus on the Karakoram Highway in the Bisham area. As of now, no terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    The notification cited “security reasons” for laying off the major workforce for an indefinite period of time.

    Dawn news contacted the general secretary of the Awami Labour Union at the Tarbela project Aslam Adil and he confirmed that under labour laws, the workers who lost their jobs would continue to receive half of their salaries until they are called back.

    He further stated that this event won’t cause a “long delay” in the project, expected to be completed by 2026.