1.15 Jan. 25

DOMESTIC

BALOCHISTAN

1. Unknown armed motorcyclists shot dead a man identified as Hakeem in the Buleda area of Kech district (1.1.25).
2. Levies forces apprehended Afghan families comprising 72 nationals who had illegally crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan in the Chagai district. However, they were later sent back to their country (1.1.25).
3. A young boy, Inayatullah, the nephew of Dr. Yaseen Dashti, Chairman of the Sociology Department at Turbat University, was killed by armed individuals in the Satellite Town area of Turbat (1.1.25).
4. Unidentified armed motorcyclists killed an unknown person in the Gormajan area of Panjgur district (1.1.25).
5. One person was injured during a bomb attack on a vehicle of the Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC) on the outskirts of Qila Saifullah town. The attack was carried out by miscreants (2.1.25).
6. Unidentified terrorists opened fire on the convoy of Sibi Commissioner Syed Zahid Shah in the Haji Shar area of Kachhi district. However, he and his staff remained unharmed due to retaliatory fire from his security guards (2.1.25).
7. A coach traveling from Karachi was targeted in a bomb attack in the New Brahman area near Turbat town. Six people, including five FC soldiers, were martyred, and 32 others were injured. SSP Zohaib Mohsin and his family, who were passing by during the attack, also sustained injuries. The banned militant group BLA claimed responsibility for the attack (3.1.25).
9. CTD Policeman Israr Ahmed was martyred by an armed assailant identified as Masood in Washuk Bazaar, Quetta. Investigations are underway to determine whether the incident relates to terrorism or personal enmity (6.1.25).
10. A police constable was injured in a grenade attack on the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalat (7.1.25).
11. Unknown gunmen killed a man and injured three others, including a policeman, on Sariab Road, Quetta (7.1.25).
12. A Levies Force official, Ahmed, was martyred by unknown armed motorcyclists in the Khudabdan area of Panjgur district (8.1.25).
13. Levies Force, in an operation, killed three captors and safely rescued a kidnapped businessman, Jumma Rahim, after a heavy exchange of fire in the Qila Saifullah district. A day earlier, the kidnappers had killed his business partner, Masood Khan, upon resistance (8.1.25).
14. A large group of 70–80 heavily armed militants from nearby mountains attacked Zehri Town in the Khuzdar district. According to Kalat Commissioner Naeem Khan Bazai, the militants stormed the town on five vehicles and over 20 motorcycles. They set multiple government buildings, including a Levies Force station, NADRA, and municipal committee offices, on fire, looted over Rs. 90 million from a private bank, and seized 20 AK-47 rifles along with 40,000 rounds of ammunition and 10 motorcycles. The militants escaped when security forces, supported by helicopters, launched an operation. The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack. Following the incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Khuzdar dismissed 15 Levies Force personnel for not resisting the militants (8–11.1.25).
15. Unknown miscreants threw a hand grenade at the residence of Balochistan Minister for Finance and Mineral Resources, Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, in Nation Town, Kharan (9.1.25).
16. Unknown miscreants hurled a grenade at the residence of Kalat’s Deputy Commissioner, injuring a police constable (9.1.25).
17. Unknown motorcyclists threw a grenade at a police station in the industrial town of Hub, but no damage to human life was reported (9.1.25).
18. Assistant Commissioner Zehra of Khuzdar district escaped unharmed in an IED blast targeting his vehicle in the Showki area of Khuzdar district (9.1.25).
19. Four passersby were injured in an IED blast carried out by terrorists to target a security forces truck passing on Station Road in Chaman (10.1.25).
20. Unknown armed miscreants blocked the Quetta-Sibi Highway in Kolpur and started checking vehicles and passengers. They later moved to the Dasht area in Mastung district, where they set a Levies Force post on fire (10.1.25).
21. Twelve miners were trapped in a coal mine explosion near Quetta on 8th January. During a search and rescue operation, authorities retrieved 11 bodies, which were handed over to their families. In another mining disaster, two miners died in a collapse, while six others were rescued in the Khost area of Harnai district (12.1.25).
22. Security forces killed 27 terrorists in an intelligence-based operation (IBO), destroyed their hideouts, and recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives in the Kachhi district. According to ISPR, the terrorists were involved in numerous activities against security forces and civilians and were wanted by law enforcement agencies (12.1.25).

ISLAMABAD

1. Thomas Juergen, Second Secretary at the German Embassy in Islamabad, was found dead in his apartment within the diplomatic enclave in the capital city. Preliminary inquiry suggests the diplomat had previously experienced a minor heart attack. However, police sources stated the cause of death would be determined following the autopsy report (6.1.25).
2. Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration deported 183 Afghan nationals living in Islamabad who could not present valid documents as per the law (7.1.25).

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (KPK)

1. A civilian was killed and nine others injured in a motorcycle bomb blast in Azam Warsaw Bazaar, Birmal Tehsil, South Waziristan district (1.1.25).
2. Six policemen were injured when their vehicle was targeted with an IED by unidentified miscreants near Soorangi Adda in Bannu district (1.1.25).
3. Police Constable Asmat Ullah and Customs worker Abdullah were martyred, and another injured, in a terrorist attack on the Daraban police post in Dera Ismail Khan district (1.1.25).
4. Unidentified gunmen martyred police constable Kamran Khan in a targeted attack near Gul Zaman Mosque on Miran Shah Road in Bannu district (2.1.25).
5. Deputy Commissioner of Kurram tribal district, Javed Ullah Mehsud, and his security guard were critically injured in a gunfire attack by unidentified armed individuals in Bagan. This occurred after a peace agreement was reached between conflicting parties with the efforts of a jirga and the administration (3.1.25).
6. Six individuals were killed, and five were injured in an ambush by armed rivals over an old enmity near Pehlwano Pul, Peshawar district (4.1.25).
7. Unidentified miscreants hurled a grenade at the residence of a policeman, Rehman, in Nuguman, a suburb of Peshawar. No loss of human life was reported (4.1.25).
8. Armed motorcyclists martyred police constables Hikmatullah and Khan Bahadur in the jurisdiction of Ghazni Khel Police Station in Lakki Marwat district (4.1.25).
9. Police claimed to have seized a cache of weapons, including one MP-4 rifle, eight pistols, 200 rounds, and 22 magazines of various bores, during a vehicle inspection in Shangla district (4.1.25).
10. Unknown armed individuals destroyed the farmhouse of Abdul Raza Afridi, President of the Awami National Party (ANP) in the Khyber tribal district, located in the Tirah valley, using explosives (4.1.25).
11. Four terrorists were killed by security forces while thwarting their attempt to infiltrate into the Rangel area of the Khyber tribal district from Afghanistan. During the exchange of fire, Sepoy Amir Sohail Afridi embraced martyrdom (5.1.25).
12. Unknown miscreants looted and set fire to two shops selling ladies’ garments in Karikot Bazaar, Wana Tehsil, South Waziristan tribal district (5.1.25).
13. Police and security forces thwarted a terrorist attack on a joint check post in Daza Ghundai, Wana Tehsil, South Waziristan tribal district (6.1.25).
14. Unknown shooters martyred two police constables, Hikmatullah and Khan Bahadur, in a targeted attack near Nawab Khan Graveyard in Lakki Marwat district. Police and villagers pursued the assailants, killing one of them (6.1.25).
15. Two Frontier Constabulary officials were injured in an exchange of fire while repulsing a terrorist attack on their camp in Bakakhel, near Bannu airport (6.1.25).
16. Police repelled a terrorist attack on a police post in Bargantoo, Wazir Subdivision, Bannu district (6.1.25).
17. Unknown armed men targeted a cash van of a private company using grenades and rockets, killing its driver, Muhammad Ashraf, and injuring two others on Manjiwala Road, Lakki Marwat district (6.1.25).
18. Security forces killed eight terrorists in an IBO in the Matani area of Peshawar district (7.1.25).
19. Eight terrorists were killed by security forces during an IBO in Baizai, Mohmand tribal district (7.1.25).
20. Three terrorists were killed during an IBO in Karak district. However, three soldiers, Lance Havaldar Abbas Ali, Naik Muhammad Nazir, and Naik Muhammad Usman, embraced martyrdom in the operation (7.1.25).
21. Unidentified shooters killed two brothers, Qari Muhammad Idris and Qari Muhammad Ishaq, relatives of a JUI-F local leader, in a targeted attack in Garaha Buddha, Tank district (7.1.25).
22. Sixteen private workers and a driver affiliated with the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission’s mineral project were kidnapped by terrorists in Qabul Khel, Lakki Marwat district, for extortion. Security forces rescued eight abductees, and efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining captives through the administration and a local jirga (8.1.25).
23. Unknown terrorists martyred CTD police official Shamimullah in Miranshah Bazaar, North Waziristan tribal district (8.1.25).
24. Security forces thwarted terrorist attacks on two check posts in Harmuz and Hasokhel villages, Mirali Tehsil, North Waziristan tribal district. Several mortar shells fired during the exchange landed in residential areas, injuring five family members, including three children (8.1.25).
25. Three individuals were injured when a suspected mortar shell exploded in the Malikdin Khel area of the Tirah valley, Khyber tribal district (9.1.25).
26. Security forces killed five militants, including their ringleader Shafiullah @ Shafi, and injured two others in an IBO in Madi, Dera Ismail Khan district (10.1.25).
27. Two people, including a policeman Rizwanullah, were killed, and several others were injured during an armed attack at a reconciliatory meeting over a monetary dispute in Sari Nourang, Lakki Marwat district (10.1.25).
28. Unknown armed individuals kidnapped policeman Irfanullah Khan at gunpoint in the Miryan area of Bannu district (11.1.25).
29. Security forces killed nine terrorists, arrested two others, and injured two more in two separate IBOs in Dosalli and Esham, North Waziristan tribal district (12.1.25).
30. Six terrorists were killed during an IBO in Tank district (12–13.1.25).
31. Security forces killed two terrorists in the Tirah valley, Khyber tribal district, during an IBO (12–13.1.25).

PUNJAB

1. Three brothers, Bilal, Usman, and Nasir Ali, were shot dead in police lockup, while a fourth sustained injuries, during a targeted attack by their rivals at Tandlianwala Saddar Police Station, Faisalabad district. The incident stemmed from old feuds between the Sukhera and Kharal groups. Several police officials were suspended for negligence, and an inquiry is underway (6.1.25).
2. Three youths from the local Hindu community—Shaman, Sajan, and Shameer—were kidnapped by dacoits in the Kacha riverine area of Swetra, Bhong, Rahim Yar Khan district. The motive behind the abduction was reportedly to bargain for the release of their relatives in police custody (7.1.25).
3. Four men, Shari, Fazalur Rahman, Zaheer Abbas, and Abdul Sattar, were killed, and 15 passersby were injured in a rivalry-related shooting near Aziz Bhatti Town, Sargodha (8.1.25).
4. Police Head Constable Khurram Shahzad Khan, allegedly involved in cross-border drug smuggling via drones, was critically injured during an exchange of fire with the Elite Force and local police in Hadiara village near the Pakistan-India border, Lahore district. Cross-border smuggling of narcotics has reportedly been ongoing in Lahore, Kasur, and Sialkot districts for years (10.1.25).
5. Six people, including four women, were killed, and seven others were injured in a fireworks explosion at a house in Phalia, Mandi Bahauddin district (10.1.25).
6. A gas cylinder explosion injured 13 people, including women and children, in Faisal Colony, Airport Police Station area, Rawalpindi (11.1.25).
7. Three armed robbers looted Rs. 900,000 after killing a manager of a private company in Raiwind, Lahore district. One of the robbers was killed by his accomplices during a shootout (12.1.25).
8. An unidentified armed motorcyclist opened fire on a police patrol, injuring Constable Shahzeb in Islampura, Sargodha city (12.1.25).
9. The Indhar gang of dacoits attacked the house of Irfan, a relative of an alleged police informer, and killed four people, including three brothers, in Basti Chandra Laghari, Rahim Yar Khan district (13.1.25).

SINDH

1. The Pakistan Navy seized a large cache of narcotics worth one million dollars during a search operation on a suspected boat in the North Arabian Sea (2.1.25).
2. Police claimed to have gunned down two dacoits, Bagher Ali and Misri Badhani, and injured six others during an encounter in Shikarpur district (8.1.25).

Comments & Analysis: The security and terrorism scenarios in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan remained critical, while Punjab and Sindh witnessed a significant rise in general crimes, including murders, kidnappings, and attacks.

The seizure of Zehri Town in Khuzdar district, Balochistan, by militants—who torched government buildings and looted money and official weapons—highlighted the failure of advanced intelligence and security apparatus. The dismissal of 15 Levies Force personnel by the Deputy Commissioner of Khuzdar for not resisting the militants seems insufficient. There is a need to design a foolproof security system to prevent such incidents in the future.

The strict counter-terrorism operations conducted by security forces in KPK and Balochistan send a strong message to militants and terrorist outfits, indicating tough times ahead if they continue their activities.

Following the agreement between rival groups brokered by the jirga and administration, a convoy of trucks carrying daily commodities and medicines reached the besieged area of Parachinar and surrounding regions in Kurram tribal district. Another convoy is ready to commence its journey. As part of the agreement, four bunkers of the fighting groups in lower Kurram were destroyed, with more likely to follow.

DEFENSE AND SECURITY

Army Chief Takes Briefing on Security Situation and Counter-Terrorism Operations in Peshawar

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir visited Peshawar, where he received a comprehensive briefing on the prevailing security situation and ongoing counter-terrorism operations targeting the defunct TTP and other terrorist outfits. According to ISPR, he emphasized that terrorism has no place in the country and lauded the unwavering resolve and sacrifices of the military and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in dismantling terrorist networks.

He stated, “As we stand united against the forces of evil, this ongoing war will be taken to its logical conclusion,” and warned that any attempt to disturb the nation’s peace would be met with decisive and overwhelming force. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and KPK Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur were also part of the briefing. The Army Chief also met with political leaders from various parties in KPK, who expressed unanimous support for the armed forces in the fight against terrorism (13.1.25).

Bilateral Military Cooperation with Bangladesh

Lt. General S.M. Kumar-ul-Hassan, Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division of Bangladesh, visited Pakistan and met COAS General Syed Asim Munir at GHQ, Rawalpindi. They discussed evolving security dynamics in the region and explored avenues for enhancing bilateral military cooperation. Both leaders emphasized the importance of a strong defense relationship, underscoring its resilience against external influences. Lt. General Kumar also commended the professionalism of the Pakistan Army and acknowledged its sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

Additionally, he met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza at Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi, to discuss mutual interests and strengthen cooperation between the armed forces of the two nations (14.1.25).

DIPLOMATIC DEVELOPMENTS / SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq Khan, briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his recent visit to Kabul. During the visit, he met Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi to discuss bilateral relations.

Earlier, the Prime Minister addressed a federal cabinet meeting, stating that Pakistan seeks cordial relations with Afghanistan. He reiterated the demand for the Taliban-led government to stop the banned TTP from conducting terrorist activities within Pakistan, calling it unacceptable and a red line for the country (31.1.25).

Annual Exchange of Lists of Nuclear Installations and Prisoners

Pakistan and India exchanged their respective lists of nuclear installations and facilities as part of the annual practice under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attacks against Nuclear Installations and Facilities, signed on 31 December 1988.

Similarly, the two countries exchanged lists of prisoners under the Consular Access Agreement of 2008. According to the lists, 462 Pakistanis (381 civilians and 81 fishermen) are in Indian jails, while 266 Indian prisoners (49 civilians and 217 fishermen) are in Pakistani jails (1.1.25).

Pakistan Becomes Non-Permanent Member of UNSC

After securing 182 votes in June 2024, Pakistan began its eighth term as a non-permanent member (2025–26) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 3.1.25.

Pakistan-China Bilateral Political Consultation

The fourth round of Pakistan-China Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) was held in Beijing. Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch led the Pakistani delegation, while Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong led the Chinese side. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). They also exchanged views on regional and international issues, agreeing to enhance mutual coordination and consultation (10.1.25).

REGIONAL

AFGHANISTAN

Law and Order/Security

1. Police claimed to have seized a large cache of weapons comprising over 600 various types of ammunition and explosives, including mortar shells, SHK rounds, and heavy machine gun bullets, in Badakhshan province.
2. Gunmen shot dead religious scholar Mullah Abdul Raza and injured Mullah Hamadullah in Baghlan province. ISKP (Daesh) claimed responsibility for the attack.
3. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) Ministry of Defense announced the activation of the Milan Konkursi (9M135) guided missile system for the first time. These missiles are capable of targeting tanks, armored vehicles, and low-flying helicopters. Training for personnel on operating these systems has been completed. However, no details regarding the number of such missiles, systems, or their deployment locations were disclosed (3–10.1.25).

Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations, Border Clashes, and India’s Reaction

1. Afghan media reported clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces at the border in the Ali Sher district of Khost province, with allegations of artillery shelling into Kunar province by Pakistan. Tensions were further heightened by Pakistan’s pushback of undocumented Afghan refugees and recent airstrikes on outlawed TTP camps along the Pak-Afghan border (3–10.1.25).
2. The Taliban-led IEA leadership issued inflammatory statements against Pakistan instead of dismantling terrorist hideouts on their territory. These developments have led to a further deterioration of relations between the two countries.
3. Reports emerged on social and electronic media—primarily Indian media—about alleged plans by Pakistani forces to seize the Wakhan Corridor (a narrow strip linking Afghanistan to Tajikistan, Pakistan, and China). Such fabrications have further complicated the situation.
4. A meeting was reportedly held between Chinese Ambassador Zhao Xing and IEA Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani to discuss bilateral relations and issues regarding the Wakhan Corridor. However, no official comments were made by Pakistan, China, or Tajikistan on the matter.
5. India has sought to exploit the situation. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai, expressing support for Afghanistan. Analysts suggest India’s quiet diplomacy with the Taliban, initiated after their return to power in 2021, aims to counter Pakistan’s influence while securing geo-economic gains in Central Asia through the Iranian Chabahar Port, bypassing Pakistani ports and routes.
6. Pakistan continues to make efforts to resolve issues bilaterally with Afghanistan. Special Representative for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq, announced the launch of the second tranche of the third phase of 4,500 Allama Iqbal Scholarships for Afghan students in Pakistan (3–10.1.25).

INDIA

India Protests China’s Creation of New Counties and a Mega Dam on the Brahmaputra River

1. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lodged a “solemn protest” with China over the creation of two new counties in the Hotan prefecture in Aksai Chin, parts of which India claims as its own territory in Ladakh.
2. India also raised objections to China’s proposed plan to build the world’s largest dam (a $137 billion hydroelectric project) on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet. This river flows into Arunachal Pradesh and then to Bangladesh, which is a riparian state. The matter was also reportedly discussed with U.S. National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan during his visit to New Delhi (6.1.25).

India Criticizes Pakistan over Alleged Airstrikes in Afghanistan

1. The Indian MEA spokesperson condemned alleged airstrikes by Pakistan in Afghanistan, calling it a “practice of blaming neighbors for internal failures” (6.1.25).

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Meets Afghan Foreign Minister in Dubai

1. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai. The two discussed bilateral relations and regional developments. Misri conveyed India’s readiness to meet Afghanistan’s developmental needs (8.1.25).

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Strategic Tunnel in Sonamarg, Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK)

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 12-km-long Z-Morh Tunnel in Sonamarg, Ganderbal district, at an altitude of 8,650 feet. Constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,700 crore, the tunnel is strategically significant for defense logistics along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
2. Addressing a public meeting, Modi referred to Jammu and Kashmir as the “crown of India” and emphasized its connectivity projects, including tunnels, bridges, and ropeways, which are expected to boost socio-economic integration across the region (13.1.25).

Provision of 4G and 5G Network Connectivity to Indian Army in Ladakh

1. The Indian Army is set to achieve 4G and 5G network connectivity at the world’s highest battlefield in the Siachen Glacier region along the Pakistan border. This initiative is being implemented with the support of Army Signallers and Reliance Jio (13.1.25).

COAS Comments on LoC and LAC

1. Indian COAS General Upendra Dwivedi stated that violence in IIOJK has declined, marking a shift from “terrorism to tourism.”
2. He acknowledged continued infiltration attempts along the LoC, despite a ceasefire agreement since February 2021, and described the situation along the LAC with China as “stable but sensitive,” with some unresolved standoffs in East Ladakh (13.1.25).

CDS Visits Jammu and Akhnoor

1. Indian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, accompanied by Lt. Gen. Suchindra Kumar (GOC-in-C Northern Command), visited Jammu and Akhnoor.
2. General Chauhan addressed an enlightening session on “Future Wars and the Indian Armed Forces” and attended the 9th Veterans’ Day event. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and IIOJK leaders were also present (14.1.25).

IRAN

Law and Order/Security

1. The Iranian Border Guard Police seized a cache of explosives, including 15 packages of 77 kg explosives, 5,000 electronic detonators, and 13 suicide vest patterns, after a heavy exchange of fire in northwest Iran (11.1.25).

Air Defense Exercises

1. Iranian armed forces launched a large-scale joint air defense exercise, “Eqtedar,” near nuclear facilities in the west and center of the country. The exercises involve missile units, radar systems, electronic warfare, and reconnaissance operations.
2. A laser-powered air defense system named “Saraj (Light)” was unveiled during these maneuvers (13.1.25).

Iran-Russia Strategic Partnership Agreement

1. Iran and Russia are set to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement during Iranian President Pezeshkiian’s visit to Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the deal is not directed against any country (14.1.25).