16-28 September 2024

Part-1 Domestic

BALOCHISTAN

1. Police recovered the bullet-riddled body of Muhammad Mohsin in Tump Wazar area, Kech district (16.9.24).

2. Family members of Saad Muhammad Sarhadi, a blasphemy suspect killed by a police official, pardoned him and announced they would not pursue the case in court (18.9.24).

3. Levis Force personnel Karim Bakhsh was martyred by unknown shooters near Custom Post on Sariab Road, Quetta (19.9.24).

4. Unidentified terrorists fired rockets at a security agency office in Noshki, causing no damage (19.9.24).

5. A grenade hurled by unknown terrorists caused damage to the Motorway Police office in Mustang (19.9.24).

6. Three Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) personnel were martyred and two injured in a targeted attack near Zhob (21.9.24).

7. A grenade attack by unknown motorcyclists injured seven bystanders in Kharan (22.9.24).

8. Unidentified gunmen killed a barber from Punjab in Quetta, with the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claiming responsibility (23.9.24).

9. A motorcycle bomb targeting a police van injured 12 people in Bhosa Mandi, Quetta (24.9.24).

10. A grenade attack on the home of an irrigation department official in Sibi resulted in the death of a young boy and injured four others (25.9.24).

11. A senior BNP-Mengal leader, Agha Khalid Shah, was killed in Quetta (28.9.24).

12. Seven laborers from Punjab were killed in a terrorist attack on an under-construction house in Panjgur district (28.9.24).

ISLAMABAD

1. A gang posing as FIA officials looted a Chinese national’s call centre in Islamabad, kidnapping a worker who was later released after extorting Rs400,000 (21.9.24).

2. A Chinese national and his assistant narrowly escaped an armed attack while traveling to their factory in Islamabad (21.9.24).

Comments & Analysis: There should be zero tolerance on criminal acts against the Chinese investors in capital Islamabad. Islamabad Police should thoroughly investigate the cases to track down the culprits and bring them to book for legal action against them. The gaps in the security should be identified and plugged with full force and resources. Internal and external forces are striving to discourage the Chinese from investing in Pakistan. Islamabad Police should develop close liaison with Intelligence Bureau and Special Branch to bridle this propensity.  

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (KPK)

1. Police recovered the bodies of three alleged militants in Dera Ismail Khan (15.9.24).

2. Peshawar Police arrested a key suspect involved in a suicide bomb attack on the Police Line mosque (16.9.24).

3. Imran Ali and his accomplices, impersonating an army major, were arrested with weapons in Shangla district (16.9.24).

4. Police thwarted a terrorist attack on Regi police station in Peshawar (17.9.24).

5. A National Bank of Pakistan manager was shot dead in North Waziristan (18.9.24).

6. Police SHO Zabhiullah survived a sniper attack in South Waziristan (18.9.24).

7. A young boy was shot dead in South Waziristan (19.9.24).

8. Security forces killed a terrorist in North Waziristan during a clash, but one soldier was martyred (19.9.24).

9. A mortar shell hit a house in South Waziristan, causing injuries (20.9.24).

10. A landmine explosion injured six children in South Waziristan (20.9.24).

11. Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Inspector Sultan Ayaz was killed in Bannu (20.9.24).

12. Police Constable Saifullah and his brother were martyred by gunmen in Lakki Marwat district (21.9.24).

13. A police constable was martyred in Bajaur district (21.9.24).

14. A roadside IED targeted a police convoy in Swat, injuring several police personnel (22.9.24).

15. The body of a missing 9-year-old boy was found in Bajaur (22.9.24).

16. Eleven police personnel were dismissed for disciplinary reasons in Bannu (23.9.24).

17. Security forces killed five terrorists in North Waziristan (24.9.24).

18. Two militants were killed in a police encounter in Swat (24.9.24).

19. Two high-profile terrorists were killed in Lakki Marwat (24.9.24).

20. Eight terrorists were killed in a security operation in North Waziristan (25-26.9.24).

21. A police station in Swabi collapsed after an explosion, killing two people (26.9.24).

22. Police Constable Tahir Rehman was martyred in Bajaur (27.9.24).

23. Three policemen were injured in an IED explosion in Bajaur (28.9.24).

24. Inter-tribal clashes in Kurram district claimed 46 lives and wounded 98 (28.9.24).

25. A helicopter crash in North Waziristan killed six individuals, including Russian pilots, due to technical faults (28.9.24).

PUNJAB

1. Three terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire with police near Nankana Sahib (17.9.24).

2. Five suspects linked to banned outfits were arrested in Punjab (21.9.24).

3. A former Senate employee was charged with blasphemy for a Facebook post in Chichawatni (21.9.24).

4. A junk shop owner was killed in a blast in Muzaffargarh district (23.9.24).

SINDH

1. A Rangers official was martyred during a robbery attempt in Nawab Shah (17.9.24).

2. A bullet-riddled body of a PTI leader’s driver was found near Karachi (18.9.24).

3. A traffic police constable was martyred by motorcyclists in Karachi (20.9.24).

4. A high-level committee was formed to investigate the killing of a blasphemy suspect in Umarkot (25.9.24).

ADMINISTRATIVE/DIPLOMATIC

1. Amna Baloch took charge as Pakistan’s new Foreign Secretary (16.9.24).

2. Pakistan lodged a protest with Afghanistan over disrespect towards its national anthem by an Afghan diplomat (17.9.24).

3. Pakistan responded to India’s request for a review of the Indus Waters Treaty, emphasizing that discussions should take place within the treaty’s framework (18-20.9.24).

4. Pakistan and Russia signed MOUs to enhance cooperation in trade, energy, and defense (20.9.24).

5. Pakistan to work with China against terrorism

Pakistan and China during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a Chinese delegation led by Minister for Political and Legal Affairs Chen Mingguo in Islamabad agreed to enhance cooperation in various fields including counter-terrorism, border management and jointly work to prevent smuggling and drug peddling. The two countries will also take comprehensive measures against terrorism. Both sides also agreed to conduct joint police and paramilitary forces exercises in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) or adjoining Xinjiang province of China having 600 km with Pakistan through which CPEC passes through it and train GB police officers in Xinjiang police academy. The Chinese Minister said that terrorism was a common problem and Xinjiang had suffered it for many years therefore, Pakistan can benefit for its experience in counter terrorism. It was also decided that a Pakistani delegation led by the Interior Secretary would soon visit Xinjiang to enhance mutual cooperation. (22.9.24).

6.           Pakistan, Russia sign MOU for cooperation in multiple sectors

During the visit of Russian Federation Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuck to Islamabad, both countries signed number of MOUsfor enhancing cooperation in the key sectors including trade, energy, connectivity and defence. The signing followed a meeting between the Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and others. PM Shehbaz Sharif said he look forward to welcome Russian PM  Mikhail Mishustin to Islamabad in October for attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council meeting of the heads of the governments (20.9.24).

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

1. Pakistan and Indonesia concluded a joint counter-terrorism exercise “Elang Strike-II” at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Pabbi (17.9.24).

2. Pakistan successfully completed testing of its first multi-mission satellite, Pakistan MM1 (18.9.24).

3. Lt Gen Asim Malik was appointed as the new Director General of the ISI, replacing Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum (22.9.24).

4. Army Chief Gen Syed Asim Munir visited South Waziristan to review counter-terrorism operations and development initiatives (24.9.24).

Part-2 (Regional)

AFGHANISTAN

1. A clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan security forces occurred at the Ghulam Khan crossing in Khost province, resulting in an exchange of fire (19.9.24).

Comments & Analysis: Afghan Taliban government has turned out to be more belligerent towards Pakistan than the previous Afghan regimes of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani. Additionally, they are supporting and protecting the terrorists group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), termed as Fitna al khawaraj, operating from Afghan soil. This approach has created a lingering bitterness in Pak-Afghan relations which has resulted in multiple border skirmishes during the last couple of months. Pakistan claimed to have killed sixteen Afghan Taliban force personnel and destroyed two tanks. The US forces have left behind a large amount of weapons and ammunition which has fallen in the hands of Afghan Taliban and TTP. Pakistan must engage regional countries to create pressure on Afghan Taliban government to avoid such bellicose behaviour. Meanwhile, talks and trade between the two countries should continue.

IRAN / MIDDLE EAST

1. Israeli forces intensified attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, reportedly killing over 400 people, including Hezbollah Secretary General Syed Hassan Nasrallah (28.9.24). Later Iran also retaliated by firing 200 ballistic missiles on Israel.

Comments & Analysis: Iran and three H i.e. Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis, have picked up the gauntlet and are responding to Israeli aggression. The region is on the brink of a disastrous war. Pakistan, being the next door neighbour of Iram, must watch the situation very minutely and take appropriate measures to safeguard its installations and interests.