Domestic

BALOCHISTAN

1. Unidentified attackers shot and killed two people traveling in a car in Mashkeel, Washuk district (30.11.25).
2. FIA Quetta arrested three NADRA officials for allegedly issuing CNICs to foreigners, enabling them to obtain Pakistani passports and travel to Saudi Arabia (1.12.25).
3. FC thwarted a terrorist attack on Guwalakhana check post in Panjgur district, with the banned BLA claiming responsibility (1.12.25).
4. Security forces killed six terrorists while thwarting an attack on the FC HQ in Nokundi, Chagai district, following a suicide bombing by a woman reportedly identified as Zinat Rafiq (2.12.25).
5. Three alleged car lifters and dacoits, including Sajid Hussain, were killed by police in Jinnah Town, Quetta (3.12.25).
6. Four bullet-riddled bodies, including three cousins of the Lehri tribe, were found at separate locations in Kalat and Khuzdar districts (4.12.25).
7. Unknown gunmen abducted seven individuals in Kalsaji, Jhal Magsi; killed a father and son in Dera Murad Jamali; and attempted a rocket attack on Kotra police station (5.12.25).
8. According to an unconfirmed media report, over 100 militants, led by Wadera Noor Ali Chakarani, surrendered to authorities in Sui Town, Dera Bugti district (5.12.25).
9. Security forces killed 12 terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Kalat district (7.12.25).
10. Pakistan Coast Guards seized 1,764,615 litres of smuggled Iranian diesel worth Rs487.03 million in Balochistan, intercepting trucks en route to Karachi (9.12.25).
11. A CTD official, Khalil Ahmed, kidnapped earlier, was found shot dead in the Charkol area of Panjgur district (10.12.25).

Comments & Analysis: The recent incidents across Balochistan reflect a volatile security landscape shaped by overlapping militant, criminal, and institutional vulnerabilities. Insurgent activity remains persistent, demonstrated through coordinated attacks on FC installations, a suicide bombing in Nokundi, and targeted killings, including the murder of a CTD official. At the same time, high-frequency criminal violence—such as abductions, car lifting, and tribal killings—continues to destabilize districts like Kalat, Khuzdar, and Jhal Magsi. The arrest of NADRA officials for issuing CNICs to foreigners further exposes governance weaknesses that enable cross-border movement and potentially facilitate militant networks. Although the reported surrender of over 100 militants in Sui suggests some pressure on insurgent groups, the scale and continuity of subsequent operations indicate that significant militant pockets remain active.

To improve the situation, security forces and civilian authorities should adopt integrated intelligence operations, strengthen identity-verification systems, and enhance surveillance over key transit and smuggling corridors that militants and criminal groups exploit. Border districts require expanded drone monitoring, coordinated FC–police patrols, and predictive policing based on hotspot mapping. Government institutions must tighten internal controls through audits and staff rotation to curb identity-fraud networks. Community engagement with tribal elders can help build trust, encourage reporting, and support verified militant surrenders. Protecting frontline personnel—through better protocols, tracking systems, and secure communication—remains essential. Overall, a mix of coordinated governance, strengthened operational capacity, and sustained community partnership is needed to reduce violence and restore state authority in the province.

ISLAMABAD

1. Police claim to have gunned down the suspected killer of ASI Ali Akbar in an encounter near Sabzi Mandi police station, Islamabad district (3.12.25).
2. Seven foreign nationals were booked for trespassing, assaulting local women, and clashing with residents near Golra Police Station, Islamabad, while allegedly filming women (11.12.25).

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (KP)

1. Security forces killed seven terrorists in two separate IBOs in Mirali and Spinwam areas of North Waziristan district (1.12.25).
2. Head Constable Alauddin was martyred and five others injured in a suicide blast targeting a mobile van of Tajori Police Station in Lakki Marwat district (1.12.25).
3. Unidentified individuals set on fire four vehicles in Kedam area of Bahrain in Swat district (1.12.25).
4. Four persons, including Assistant Commissioner Shah Wali and two police officers, were martyred in a vehicle attack by terrorists in Miranshah, North Waziristan district (2.12.25).
5. Unidentified armed men killed Jumma Khan, a vehicle driver of PPP leader Asif Javed Lothani, and injured the latter in Darban Kalan, Dera Ismail Khan (3.12.25).
6. Unidentified assailants injured a policeman during an ambush on a police patrol van in Tiarza, South Waziristan (3.12.25).
7. Unknown gunmen shot and injured a truck driver in Masoomabad area on Miranshah Road and took away his vehicle in Bannu district (3.12.25).
8. According to police claims, armed assailants killed an under-custody rape suspect, Samiullah, in an attack on a police party in Peshawar district (3.12.25).
9. Police arrested a suspect allegedly involved in the attack on Bajaur Chamber of Commerce president Haji Lali Shah’s house in Khar, Bajaur (1–3.12.25).
10. Sub-Inspector Arif Khan was abducted by unidentified armed men in Hakeem Abad area of Nowshera district (3.12.25).
11. Police arrested 16 Afghan nationals at Khati check post, Dera Ismail Khan, for lacking valid legal documents (4.12.25).
12. Police killed three criminal brothers—Lal Sher, Jan Sher, and Aziz—during separate encounters in Shangla and Peshawar districts (4.12.25).
13. Police foiled a terrorist attack on Shaheed Asmatullah Khan Khattak police station in Lakki Marwat district (4.12.25).
14. Security forces killed nine terrorists in two separate IBOs in Tank and Lakki Marwat districts (5.12.25).
15. Journalists Syed Shah Raza Shah and Rafaqatullah Rozarwal claimed to have received murder and bomb threats in Charsadda district (5.12.25).
16. KP government amended civil service rules to allow special recruitment of sons or widows of martyred civil servants (5.12.25).
17. Police foiled a daylight kidnapping attempt of Rahmatullah by armed men in fake uniforms, arresting Afzal Majid and Ghiasuddin in Bara area of Khyber district (6.12.25).
18. Unidentified terrorists used explosives to blow up a link bridge in Mamandkhel area of Bannu district (7.12.25).
19. Armed assailants shot dead ambulance driver Ijaz Gul en route from Hund to Chota Lahore in Swabi district (7.12.25).
20. SHO Hassan-al-Wahab was injured while foiling a terrorist attack on Ahmedzai police station, Bannu district (8.12.25).
21. KP CM Mohammad Sohail Afridi, along with senior police officers, handed bulletproof vehicles, modern weapons, and security gadgets to police in Peshawar, praising their bravery (9.12.25).
22. Seven terrorists, including commander Musa, were killed in an intelligence-based aerial strike on the Lakki Marwat–Bannu district border (9.12.25).
23. A peace committee office in Tank was hit by a quadcopter drone but with no casualties (9.12.25).
24. Police constable Nawaz Muhammad Shah on duty was martyred in District Headquarters Hospital, Battagram (10.12.25).
25. Two children were killed and 16 injured when a mortar shell, mistaken for a toy, exploded at Madrassah Shams-ul-Quran in Mirali, North Waziristan district (10.12.25).
26. At least seven people, including minors, were injured in a terrorist quadcopter attack on a football playground in Shaikh Landak, Lakki Marwat district (11.12.25).
27. A second-year pre-medical student, Khushbakht of Jinnah College for Women, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a Peshawar hostel (11.12.25).
28. Armed motorcyclists killed two women teachers, Nida Shamsher and Sadat Begum, en route to Government High School Parang Safirkhel, Charsadda district (11.12.25).
29. Five police officers were injured in a late-night terrorist attack on a check post in Shaikh Landak area of Bannu district (12.12.25).
30. Security forces killed seven terrorists during an IBO in Mohmand district (12–13.12.25).
31. Six terrorists were killed by security forces during an exchange of fire in Bannu district (12–13.12.25).
32. Security forces killed one terrorist and arrested four during an IBO in Daud Shah, Mamandkhel, and Mamshakhel areas of Bannu district (13.12.25).
33. Three young boys were killed and another injured when a quadcopter crashed in Mamandkhel area of Bannu district. In a separate incident, terrorists attacked Sheikh Landak police post with quadcopter bombs and sniper fire (13.12.25).
34. An IED blast on Wana–Karikot Road in South Waziristan district killed a minor Afghan girl and destroyed a bridge (13.12.25).
35. A tribal elder, Torabi of the Sulemankhel tribe, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Azam Warsak area of Birmal tehsil, South Waziristan district (14.12.25).
36. A nine-year-old girl, Saima Bibi, was killed and another injured when a mortar shell from an unknown location struck Bakkakhel in Bannu district (14.12.25).
37. The prime suspect in Dr. Warda Mushtaq’s murder was killed in an alleged police encounter near Thandiani, Abbottabad. Earlier, her body was recovered from Thandiyani forest, and police arrested her friend and husband; the FIR cited a gold dispute, while the suspects claimed the matter was resolved and part of a conspiracy to defame her businessman husband (14.12.25).
38. Security forces killed seven terrorists in an IBO in Kalachi area of Dera Ismail Khan; during the exchange of fire, a soldier, Naik Yasir Khan, embraced martyrdom (15.12.25).

Comments & Analysis: The security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during this period reflects a complex, multi-layered threat environment driven by militant resurgence, targeted violence against state officials, and a rise in disruptive criminal activity. North and South Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan remain the epicentres of militant operations, as seen in repeated IBOs, suicide attacks, aerial strikes, and quadcopter-assisted assaults. The deliberate targeting of police, civil servants, tribal elders, and even humanitarian workers shows an effort by militant groups to erode state presence and intimidate communities. Meanwhile, incidents such as kidnappings, vehicle snatching, destruction of infrastructure, and attacks on teachers and journalists point to a parallel increase in criminal violence and social insecurity. Civilian casualties—especially children in mortar explosions and drone attacks—further deepen public fear and distrust, while the discovery of suspicious deaths indicates growing psychosocial and law-and-order pressures within urban centres like Peshawar.

To stabilise the environment, the provincial government and security forces should intensify integrated counterterror operations, focusing on dismantling supply chains, cross-district movement networks, and drone-enabled militant capabilities. Enhanced surveillance—including anti-drone systems, fortified police posts, and rapid-response units—would be especially critical in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Waziristan. Police protection protocols must be strengthened through armored mobility, upgraded communication systems, and coordinated patrol patterns to minimize ambush vulnerability. Parallel to kinetic actions, community resilience initiatives—such as supporting victims’ families, expanding public awareness on unexploded ordnance, and improving intelligence partnerships with tribal elders—can help rebuild trust. Additionally, stronger border management, biometric checks, and legal screening are required to regulate undocumented movement and curb cross-border facilitation. A combined focus on operational capacity, community engagement, and institutional governance is essential to contain violence and restore confidence across KP.

PUNJAB

Major Crime Incidents

1. Katcha robbers attacked an e-commerce office in Ahmedpur Lama, Sadiqabad, with a hand grenade, demanding Rs50 million ransom and threatening further attacks. Meanwhile, three police officials in Vehari were suspended over a staged killing case, and police arrested four suspects for gang-raping two sisters in Theme Park, Sundar area, Lahore (3, 5 & 13.12.25).
2. Major crime incidents and Police / CCD anti-crime drive

a) Katcha robbers attacked an e-commerce office in Ahmedpur Lama, Sadiqabad, with a hand grenade, demanding Rs50 million ransom and threatening further attacks. Meanwhile, three police officials in Vehari were suspended over a staged killing case, and police arrested four suspects for gang-raping two sisters in Theme Park in Sundar area of Lahore (3, 5 & 13.12.25).
b) A province-wide crackdown by Punjab’s Crime Control Department (CCD) and local police reportedly killed over 40 alleged criminals and arrested several others involved in heinous crimes such as murder, robberies, kidnapping, extortion, criminal assaults, drug trafficking, and land grabbing in separate encounters and raids across Punjab. Several CCD and police personnel were also injured in these incidents (1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12 & 13.12.25).

3. FIA Deputy Director Mehmood Ali Khokhar warned that Southeast Asian criminal syndicates are luring Pakistani job seekers with fake IT and call center offers, coercing them into cyber and financial crimes. He urged aspirants to verify offers through legitimate sources or report suspicious activity, cautioning that “your dream job offer could be a nightmare” (3.12.25).
4. A local jirga in Phogla Tuman Buzdar, Taunsa Sharif, subjected Gul Sher to the illegal “red-hot iron” test for allegedly stealing solar panels, severely burning his hands, fining him Rs200,000, and ordering exile. Following public outrage, the Border Military Police registered a case against the jirga members and launched raids to arrest those involved (3.12.25).
5. Traffic police registered over 4,600 cases and 3,100 arrests, prompting parents to urge a softer approach. LHC dismissed a petition challenging stricter penalties under the Punjab Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, while Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz made it mandatory for Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) staff to wear body cameras to ensure transparency amid corruption complaints (1, 5.12.25).
6. Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police claimed to have arrested 12 suspected terrorists in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur allegedly planning attacks on places of worship and key sites, seizing explosives, weapons, and sensitive materials. Suspects included Sukhdeep Singh, Azmat, and Faizan, reportedly working for Indian intelligence agency RAW (7.12.25).
7. IG Police Punjab ordered a province-wide high alert with security operations, while CM Maryam Nawaz mandated school CCTVs, Safe City integration, and identification of illegal Afghan nationals.
8. Punjab Police and NH&MP signed an MoU for joint motorway patrolling, real-time intelligence sharing, and coordinated counter-terrorism and anti-smuggling efforts (9, 13.12.25).
9. Lahore High Court sought responses from federal authorities after lawyers petitioned against alleged fake police encounters by Punjab’s CCD, citing over 1,100 reported killings (12.12.25).
10. Police booked lawyer Ahmad Jehangir and seven others for allegedly forcing entry onto the drama Bulleh Shah set in Lahore, holding actors hostage, demanding extortion, and ransacking the set (12.12.25).

SINDH

1. Sindh cabinet approved a one-year extension of Pakistan Rangers’ deployment in Karachi to assist police in law enforcement and counter-terrorism from 9 December (1.12.25).
2. Sindh Home Minister announced the arrest of 13 suspected drug traffickers, including an Excise official, and the seizure of hashish and crystal meth worth nearly Rs1 billion in Karachi (1.12.25).
3. Women’s rights activist Sheema Kermani and others were briefly detained outside Karachi Press Club before an Aurat March press conference, with HRCP condemning police actions (4.12.25).
4. Two armed motorcyclists martyred police constable Jehanzeb Jatoi in Rohri, Sukkur; several other violent incidents in Karachi and Shikarpur involved shootings, mysterious deaths, and encounters with suspected criminals (10, 12 & 13.12.25).

DEFENCE AND SECURITY

Navy

1. Participants of the Maritime Security Workshop (MARSEW-8) visited Naval Headquarters Islamabad, where Admiral Naveed Ashraf highlighted maritime challenges, Pakistan Navy’s deterrence, and blue economy potential, with delegates praising MARSEW’s role in maritime awareness and policy (4.12.25).
2. A Royal Navy of Oman flotilla visited Karachi to participate in Exercise TAT-2025, enhancing maritime security cooperation, interoperability, and professional exchanges with the Pakistan Navy (6.12.25).
3. Pakistan Navy Ship YAMAMA seized 1,500 kg of hashish worth $3 million during a Regional Maritime Security Patrol in the Arabian Sea, highlighting the Navy’s commitment to combating illicit activities and ensuring maritime security (7.12.25).
4. Naval Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf stated that the induction of eight Hangor-class submarines will enhance operational flexibility, commemorating 54 years since the original Hangor sank INS Khukri and crippled INS Kirpan, marking a tactical victory and strategic demonstration (8.12.25).
5. The 8th Pakistan Navy Maritime Security Workshop concluded in Lahore, with Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani highlighting the blue economy, maritime security, and the Navy’s role in regional stability (12.12.25).
6. Pakistan Navy successfully conducted live firing of the FM-90 (N) ER surface-to-air missile in the North Arabian Sea, effectively engaging aerial targets and reaffirming its combat readiness, with Commander Pakistan Fleet witnessing and praising the operation (15.12.25).

Army / COAS / CDF

7. Pakistan Army and China’s PLA conducted the joint counterterrorism exercise Warrior-IX from 28 November to 14 December 2025, with Distinguished Visitors Day attended by Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong and Pakistan Army’s Chief of General Staff at NCTC Pabbi (11.12.25).
8. Turkiye’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, Saudi Arabia’s Lt Gen Fahad Al-Johani, and Bahrain’s General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Isa Al Khalifa met separately with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at GHQ Rawalpindi to discuss regional security and strengthen bilateral defence relations (2, 3.12.25).
9. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir was appointed Pakistan’s first COAS & CDF on 5 December, consolidating operational, administrative, and strategic authority under the 27th Amendment—marking a major military restructuring since the 1970s. He received the Tri-Services Guard of Honour at GHQ Rawalpindi on 8 December, lauding Armed Forces’ valour and emphasizing tri-services integration. He met Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on 9 December and visited Gujranwala and Sialkot Garrisons on 13 December to review operational readiness, training, troop morale, and technological adaptability (5, 8, 9, 13.12.25).
10. A Field General Court Martial found former Lt Gen Faiz Hameed guilty of political involvement, violating the Official Secrets Act, and misuse of authority, sentencing him to 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment on 11 December 2025, with full legal rights to appeal (11.12.25).

DIPLOMATIC DEVELOPMENTS AND SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

1. Pakistan and Turkey signed five MoUs and deeds of assignment for oil and gas exploration, agreeing to expand cooperation in mining and power during a Turkish delegation visit led by Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar (2.12.25).
2. Iranian Ambassador Dr. Reza Amiri Moghaddam met Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi in Islamabad to agree on resuming the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul train this year to boost regional connectivity and trade (4.12.25).
3. FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said in Islamabad that the Pak-Afghan border will remain closed until Kabul provides credible assurances against terrorism; he noted stalled Turkish mediation and concerns over India’s discriminatory policies and extremist groups (5.12.25).
4. PM Shehbaz Sharif approved electricity projects for Gilgit-Baltistan and Gwadar, including a 100 MW solar project in GB, directing immediate implementation for reliable power supply (8.12.25).
5. IMF approved a fresh $1.2 billion disbursement to Pakistan under EFF and RSF, offering crucial support amid global economic pressures such as commodity volatility and climate disasters (8.12.25).
6. Russian Ambassador Albert Khorev in Islamabad reportedly expressed concern over Pakistan-Taliban tensions, urged diplomatic resolution, offered counterterrorism cooperation, and offered Moscow’s mediation. He later defended Russia’s stance on Ukraine, criticised European initiatives, noted stalled peace talks, and praised Pakistan’s neutral position amid Western sanctions (11, 13.12.25).
7. Indian forces detained 11 Pakistani fishermen, including two minors, near the disputed maritime border, with families urging government intervention for their release (12.12.25).
8. PM Shehbaz Sharif, at a forum during his visit to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, urged the international community to press the Afghan Taliban to prevent cross-border terrorism, highlighting the fragile Pakistan–Afghanistan ceasefire and Turkey’s mediation efforts (12–13.12.25).

Regional

AFGHANISTAN

Law and Order / Security

1. The Taliban-led IEA government executed “Mangal” under qisas for killing 13 relatives in Ali Shir and Tirazayi, while the qisas sentences of his two sons were postponed because the victims’ family head is abroad. On the anniversary of Refugee Minister Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani’s assassination, the Taliban released videos of alleged ISIS-K “confessions” blaming Pakistan’s Balochistan—a claim Islamabad denies amid rising cross-border accusations. Analysts and rights groups doubt the credibility of the coerced-looking footage and warn that deepening Taliban-Pakistan mistrust is undermining regional counterterrorism efforts and enabling militant groups to expand (2, 12.12.25).
2. Afghanistan and Tajikistan reportedly agreed to enhance border and security cooperation, while Afghanistan and Turkey discussed stronger bilateral ties. Ariana Afghan Airlines partnered with Turkish Airlines to improve connectivity and services (2.12.25).
   SIGAR reported that $144.7 billion spent on Afghan reconstruction from 2002–2021 largely failed due to misuse, fraud, and waste, though the U.S. remained Afghanistan’s largest humanitarian donor from 2021–2025, providing $3.5 billion and saving $2.51 billion through audits (2–3.12.25).
   Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev stressed the importance of continued humanitarian aid to Afghanistan for regional security and reaffirmed support for reconstruction, education, trade, and food security at the “Peace and Trust” conference in Ashgabat (13.12.25).
3. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Afghanistan has curbed drug trafficking and strengthened its fight against internal threats, acknowledged the Islamic Emirate’s control, and emphasized the importance of engagement. During his New Delhi visit, India and Russia highlighted close coordination on Afghanistan, Security Council dialogue, and the Moscow Format for regional stability and counterterrorism since the Taliban’s 2021 return (4–5.12.25).
4. Afghan forces exchanged fire with Pakistani forces at the Chaman border on the night of 5 December, with each side accusing the other of initiating the clash, leaving at least three Pakistani and five Afghan civilians injured. Calm returned on 6 December, though unverified reports suggested fighting along the Chaman–Kandahar highway. These clashes are part of ongoing tensions over banned groups like the TTP and BLA/BLF allegedly using Afghan territory for attacks on Pakistan.
   Separately, India supplied 63,734 influenza and meningitis vaccine doses to Afghanistan and condemned Pakistan’s alleged airstrikes at both New Delhi and the UN, while Pakistan defended them as counterterrorism measures (5, 6, 8, 11, 12.12.25).

Comments & Analysis: The fragile Pakistan–Afghanistan ceasefire was tested again with border exchanges of fire, fueled by stalled negotiations, delayed mediator visits, and the Taliban’s refusal to act against cross-border terrorists. Recent attacks on Chinese workers in Tajikistan originating from Afghanistan underscore the need for Pakistan and regional neighbors to pressure the Taliban to curb cross-border terrorism and prevent broader regional insecurity. These developments must also be viewed in the context of shifting geo-economic and political interests of Russia, China, and India in Afghanistan, highlighting the importance of coordinated regional efforts and mediation to enforce anti-terror measures.

ILLEGAL INDIAN OCCUPIED JAMMU AND KASHMIR (IIOJK) / LOC

1. Indian security forces and police continued their fake anti-militancy drive and arrested a number of innocent Kashmiri youth under fabricated cases for their alleged involvement in terrorism in IIOJK. Army, J&K Police, and BSF conducted joint search operations along the IB in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts as part of enhanced security measures. BSF claimed to have arrested alleged militant Abdul Khaliq in Srinagar’s Pargwal area of Akhnoor tehsil in Jammu. Police arrested an innocent Kashmiri youth, Nazair, for his alleged affiliation with militants in Awanipura, Pulwama district. A policeman was killed and a militant reportedly injured in a gunfight in a remote forest village, Soan, in Udhampur district (9, 12, 13 & 15.12.25).
2. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), with fabricated charges, sheeted seven accused, including alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF) members, in the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 25 tourists and one local civilian. The charge sheet named handler Sajid Jatt, three terrorists killed in “Operation Mahadev,” and two local men, Parvaiz Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, for harbouring the attackers. India blamed Pakistan for the attack without evidence, which Islamabad denied, calling for a neutral investigation. This led to tit-for-tat diplomatic tensions, a four-day conflict in May, and a sweeping Indian crackdown that arrested over 2,000 Kashmiris and demolished several homes across multiple districts (15.12.25).

INDIA

Defence, Security, and Diplomacy

1. The BSF Eastern Command in Kolkata apprehended 10,263 Bangladeshis over the past year, with new barbed-wire fencing planned and multi-layered border defense—including BSF, ITBP, SSB, and community programs—enhancing security (30.11–1.12.25).
2. India reportedly strengthened defence near the Bangladesh border by establishing three new garrisons in Bamuni (Assam), Kishanganj (Bihar), and Chopra (West Bengal) to protect the sensitive 22-km Siliguri Corridor, commonly called the “Chicken Neck Corridor,” enhancing surveillance, readiness, and rapid troop deployment. The garrisons, managed under 4 Corps and Brahmastra Corps and supported by Trishakti Corps with Rafale jets, BrahMos, S-400, and Akash SAMs, reflect India’s proactive strategy to bolster operational dominance, security, and Northeast connectivity (1.12.25).
3. India is developing strategic railway links to the North and Northeast regions, including Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, to boost security, trade, military logistics, and regional development under the “Look East” policy (2.12.25).
4. India mandated all new smartphones to pre-load the Sanchar Saathi app for device verification and reporting misuse, raising privacy concerns despite its role in recovering over 700,000 lost phones (2.12.25).
5. Russian President Putin’s two-day visit to India strengthened strategic and trade ties, with Modi and Putin agreeing to raise bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, expand cooperation in defence, energy, pharma, infrastructure, AI, and media, and discuss S-400/500 systems, joint Su-57 production, and a pharma plant. They reaffirmed India’s peace stance on Ukraine and independent foreign policy. The leaders also committed to zero tolerance for terrorism, urging global action against UN-listed groups, tackling terror financing and radicalisation, and coordinating on Afghanistan. Rahul Gandhi’s exclusion from Putin’s banquet highlighted ongoing domestic political tensions (4–5.12.25).
6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a debate on the 150th anniversary of the song Vande Mataram, accused former PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Congress of appeasing the Muslim League and aligning with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1937, thereby fragmenting the song and contributing to the partition of India in 1947. He emphasized the song’s role in inspiring the freedom movement and criticized Congress for compromising under pressure. Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated in the Rajya Sabha that Vande Mataram resonates across India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (8–9.12.25).

IRAN

1. Ten Afghan civilians were killed and two went missing after Iranian border guards fired during an irregular crossing, escalating Afghanistan–Iran border tensions, while rights group Hengaw reported a record 187 executions in Iran in September, including around ten Afghans (2.12.25).
2. Iran rejected the UAE’s territorial claims, stating that Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb are inseparable parts of its territory and condemning the UAE’s misuse of diplomatic visits to advance such claims (15.12.25).
3. During a visit to the Peace and Trust Forum in Ashgabat, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized stronger coordination on regional developments and full implementation of bilateral agreements, highlighting cooperation in trade, transportation, energy, border security, and people-to-people exchanges. Later, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, stressed deepening historical, economic, security, and cultural ties, aiming for $10 billion trade, enhanced counterterrorism cooperation, and Iran’s role in mediating Pakistan–Afghanistan tensions (12, 15.12.25).

MIDDLE EAST

1. Qatar’s PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said at the 23rd Doha Forum that engaging groups like Hamas and the Taliban is vital for conflict resolution, defended Qatar’s mediation role, condemned Israel’s September strike on Qatari territory, and highlighted the forum’s global participation (7.12.25).
2. Foreign ministers from Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar condemned Israel’s unilateral plan to open the Rafah crossing, urging adherence to the U.S.-brokered peace plan, a sustained ceasefire, free movement, and resumption of Palestinian Authority responsibilities. They also reaffirmed UNRWA’s vital role in protecting Palestinian refugees, condemned attacks on its facilities, and called for continued international support and funding amid the Gaza crisis. Pope Leo had already reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state on 1 December as the only viable solution, saying the Vatican aims to mediate while praising Turkey’s religious coexistence during his return flight to Lebanon (5, 12.12.25).

International

U.S.A

1. An Afghan man, Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, was charged in Texas for threatening a suicide bombing in a Taliban-praising video and was arrested by the FBI before any attack, facing up to five years in prison. His arrest followed a separate shooting near the White House by another Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, charged with first-degree murder. The NCTC director told Congress that about 2,000 Afghan evacuees from the 2021 evacuation are suspected of terrorist links, with another 16,000 cases under investigation due to vetting failures. The issue sparked controversy as President Donald Trump’s remarks on immigration drew backlash, and the U.S. suspended immigration requests from Afghan nationals and 18 other non-European countries after the Washington attack (2, 9, 12.12.25).
2. The White House National Security Strategy highlighted President Trump’s peace efforts, particularly between India and Pakistan, while framing China as the primary challenge and calling for deeper U.S.–India cooperation alongside concerns in the South China Sea and critical minerals. It also addressed Middle Eastern and European issues and urged Europe to take on most NATO conventional defence duties by 2027—an expectation lawmakers and European officials argue is unrealistic given capability gaps and reliance on key U.S. assets (5–6.12.25).

Australia — Mass Shooting Kills 15 Persons

Two alleged gunmen, a father and son reportedly identified as Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram, killed 15 people in a targeted antisemitic attack at a Jewish community Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, leaving the father dead at the scene, the son critically injured, and dozens hospitalised. This marked Australia’s worst gun violence incident in nearly 30 years.
A fruit vendor, Ahmed, a Syrian-origin Australian citizen, saved several people by disarming one attacker. Sajid is an Indian citizen and his son Naveed is Australian by birth.

World leaders including the U.S., France, and Pakistan condemned the incident. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had warned that Australia’s support for Palestinian statehood would fuel antisemitism.

Unconfirmed media reports quoting Australian security and police sources suggest that the attackers may have been inspired or directed by ISIS, with a flag reportedly found in their vehicle and prior monitoring of Naveed Akram linking him to extremist activities. Authorities are investigating potential wider network connections while the government strengthens counterterrorism measures and public awareness amid ongoing mourning (14–15.12.25).