1-15 March 25

Part 1 – Domestic

BALOCHISTAN

1. Two leaders of JUI-F Baluchistan, Wadera Ghulam Sarwar and Maulvi Amanullah, were shot dead by unknown assailants while on their way home in the Tarsani area of Zehri Tehsil in Khuzdar District. No militant group has claimed responsibility yet. (1.3.25)
2. FC soldier Lance Naik Attaullah embraced martyrdom, while four others were injured when a female suicide bomber reportedly targeted one of the vehicles in their convoy in the Mouglazai area near Kalat. The outlawed BLA-Azad, a lesser-known militant outfit, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. (3.3.25)
3. A large group of unidentified armed individuals blocked the Makran Coastal Highway at Makola, between Pasni and Ormara. They set fire to seven vehicles, including empty LPG tankers and a highway police vehicle, after disarming patrolling officers by snatching their weapons. The assailants managed to flee after three hours, just as police forces arrived at the scene. (4.3.25)
4. In a remote-controlled IED blast targeting the vehicle of pro-government tribal elder Abdul Samad Samalani, five people were burnt to death, and ten others were critically injured in the main bazaar of Naal town in Khuzdar District. (5.3.25)
5. Security forces arrested four alleged terrorists while thwarting their attempt to cross into Pakistan in the Toba Katri area of Pishin District. (5.3.25)
6. Six unidentified armed motorcyclists gunned down two individuals, Abdul Rahim Gola and Fateh Muhammad Gola, and injured another while they were traveling in a car in the Khanpur area of Usta Muhammad District. (6.3.25)
7. A child was killed, and two others were injured in a grenade attack on their house in the Sui area of Dera Bugti District. (7.3.25)
8. Unknown armed motorcyclists killed a leading religious scholar, Mufti Shah Mir, reportedly affiliated with JUI-F, in Turbat town of Kech District. He had previously survived two attempts on his life. The attack came shortly after the recent killing of two JUI-F leaders in Zehri Tehsil of Khuzdar District. (7.3.25)
9. A group of 100 armed men attacked the Levies Force Police Station in Ornach, took the police officials hostage, set fire to records and a patrol vehicle, and fled after seizing 13 automatic guns with ammunition and a vehicle in Khuzdar District. (9.3.25)
10. A group of armed men attacked the Sohanda Dam site and set all the machinery on fire in Zehri Tehsil of Khuzdar District. (9.3.25)

    Jaffar Express Hijacking-Killed 33 Terrorists During                     Operation

11. On March 11, 2025, Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was hijacked by heavily armed terrorists at Mushkaf Tunnel near Sibi District. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its allied Majeed Brigade claimed responsibility for the attack.

The train reportedly had 440 passengers on board, according to railway sources. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the terrorists, after blowing up the railway track, took control of the train and held the passengers hostage, including women, children, and the elderly, using them as human shields.

Security forces immediately responded to the situation. Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, the valiant troops engaged the terrorists with precision. After a prolonged, intense, and daring operation, the security forces successfully eliminated all 33 terrorists, including suicide bombers, while rescuing the hostages in a phased manner.

Tragically, during the initial stage of the intense standoff, the terrorists killed 21 innocent hostages before the clearance operation commenced. Additionally, four security personnel embraced martyrdom. (12.3.25)

12. Unknown armed individuals reportedly kidnapped seven laborers and set a dumper on fire after an attack on Manjiwala Dam in Bolan District. (14.3.25)
13. Unknown individuals reportedly hurled a grenade at Mechibaig Police Station in Quetta. (14.3.25)
14. Unknown miscreants attacked a construction site and set the machinery and equipment ablaze in Khuzdar District. (14.3.25)
15. A police officer was martyred, and six others were injured in a remote-controlled blast targeting a vehicle of the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) on Karani Road in Quetta. (15.3.25)

Comments & Analysis:        The details of terrorist incidents during the last fortnight highlight a surge in militant activities, including targeted assassinations, suicide bombings, abductions, and large-scale attacks on security forces, infrastructure, and civilians. The most significant event was the attack on Jaffar Express, where heavily armed terrorists took hostages and engaged in a prolonged standoff before security forces eliminated 33 militants and rescued passengers, though 21 hostages and four security personnel lost their lives. Other incidents include attacks on police stations, tribal elders, religious scholars, and laborers, as well as sabotage operations against key infrastructure. The escalating violence, particularly the involvement of banned groups like BLA, underscores the region’s deteriorating security situation, despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies to curb insurgency and terrorism. There are clear and categorical reports of deep involvement of Indian intelligence agency RAW and Afghanistan. There is a need to review the situation and revise the strategy to address the challenges. It is important to involve the people of the area in tackling the situation.

ISLAMABAD

1. Unidentified individuals in a moving car hurled a firecracker at a police team that was deployed in G-7/3 to prevent any untoward incident during a standoff between clerics and students of Jamia Hafsa, following the arrest of Umm-e-Hassan, the wife of Maulana Abdul Aziz. A couple of days later, she was reportedly released on bail. (1.3.25)
2. Three robbery incidents occurred in the federal capital. In the first incident, six armed individuals looted Rs. 4 million at gunpoint and fled. In the second incident, armed robbers broke into a house and stole Rs. 890,000 and a pistol from the residence of Me Shah. In the third incident, four armed men entered a pharmacy owned by Dr. Saqib Khan within the jurisdiction of Khanna Police Station, snatched cash and mobile phones from the employees, and escaped. (13.3.25)

Comments & Analysis: Though robberies are not terrorism but such incidents in the Capital of Pakistan indicates slackness in security arrangements which can encourage the terrorists to take advantage of the situation. The authorities should enhance intelligence gathering and increase police patrols in high-risk areas to prevent criminal activities. The efficacy of safe city project must be reviewed. There is a need to strengthen coordination between law enforcement agencies and community watch programs to improve response times. Additionally, raising public awareness on safety measures and encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities can further enhance security in the capital. In light of the recent standoff involving Jamia Hafsa, proactive dialogue with religious institutions and strict legal action against incitement can help prevent future unrest.

Gilgit-Baltistan (GB)

Fire damaged the portion of the historical 510-feet-long wooden bridge’s (suspension bridge) connecting Danyor to Kundas in Gilgit. Currently the bridge closed for traffic, but pedestrian can cross it. The cause of fire remained unknown, Local residents staged a protest and demanded fair investigation into the incident (10.3.25).

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA (KPK)

1. One person was reportedly killed, and four others were injured in an IED blast in Mamozai Bazaar, Upper Orakzai. (28.2.25)
2. Security forces killed six terrorists, including an alleged Afghan national, Mujeeb, during an operation in the Ghulam Khan Kalay area of North Waziristan district. (1.3.25)
3. Five members of a family, including children, were injured when a mortar shell fired from an unknown location fell on a house in the Sradarga area of Bannu district. (1.3.25)
4. The Police Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) successfully defused an IED in the Darbar area of Mamond tehsil, Bajaur district. (1.3.25)
5. Two people, identified as Sajjad and Muhammad Akbar, were killed, and five others were injured when an armed individual opened fire on them in a mosque in Saudi Sharif, Mingora, Swat. Later, the police claimed to have arrested the suspect, and investigations are ongoing. (1.3.25)
6. Two soldiers were reportedly martyred, and ten others, including two civilians, were injured when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into their convoy in the Eidak area of North Waziristan district. (1.3.25)
7. Police foiled an attack on the Abbasah check post in Lakki Marwat district, killing one terrorist and forcing others to flee. However, a policeman was injured during the exchange of fire. (1.3.25)
8. Unknown gunmen killed Mufti Farmanullah and his gunman, Arshad, in a targeted attack while they were on their way to their Darul Uloom (seminary) on the Hangu Highway in the Nasratkhel area of Kohat district. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the incident yet. (2.3.25)
9. A police officer, Ismail, was martyred in a targeted attack by unknown assailants in the Badi Samoor area of Khar tehsil, Bajaur district. (2.3.25)
10. In separate incidents, a prayer leader, Hafiz Tahir, and a commission agent, Asif, were allegedly kidnapped by unknown armed individuals from villages 136/9-L and 135/9-L, respectively. Two separate FIRs were registered at Ghala Mandi Police Station, Sahiwal. (4.3.25)

Major Terrorist Attack on Bannu Cantt

11. Security forces successfully foiled a terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment, killing all 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers. However, during the intense exchange of fire, five soldiers embraced martyrdom, and 13 civilians, including women and children, lost their lives, while 32 others were injured. The attack caused severe damage to houses due to multiple suicide blasts, and the death toll reportedly rose to 18. According to the military media wing ISPR, the attackers attempted to breach the high-security area by ramming two explosive-laden vehicles into the perimeter wall, causing damage to adjacent infrastructure, including a nearby mosque and residential buildings. The attack was allegedly planned and directed by terrorist leaders operating from Afghan territory. Pakistan expects the interim Afghan government to uphold its responsibilities and deny the use of its soil for terrorist activities. Furthermore, Pakistan reserves the right to take necessary measures in response to these cross-border threats. Security forces remain steadfast in their resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms. An in-depth analytical report on the terrorist incident may be viewed on thestrategicbrief.com on March 4, 2025. (4.3.25)
12. Unidentified armed motorcyclists carried out a targeted attack, martyring Intelligence Bureau (IB) Inspector Shahid Iqbal within the limits of Michini Gate Police Station, Peshawar. (5.3.25)
13. Police killed a notorious criminal, identified as Irfan alias “Baby,” in an encounter in the Nusratkhel area of Kohat district. (5.3.25)
14. Unidentified shooters killed Police Constable Faheem Khan and his brother, Naeem Khan, and injured three others in the Shahpur area of Peshawar. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the attack was a case of personal enmity or a targeted killing. (7.3.25)
15. Police claimed to have recovered a 13-year-old boy, Haider, after kidnappers abandoned him while being hotly pursued by authorities within the limits of York Police Station in Dera Ismail Khan district. (7.3.25)
16. Two security personnel were reportedly martyred, and two others were injured in a blast when their vehicle was hit by a roadside IED in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur district. (7.3.25)
17. Security forces killed three terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tank district. (8.3.25)
18. An armed clash between two rival groups claimed four lives, including Mirza Khan, and injured three others in the Qasim Tory Mera area of Mardan district. (8.3.25)
19. Shakeel Ahmed Khan, the elder brother of former Jamiat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, was shot dead allegedly by his neighbor, Kamran Khan, reportedly a drug addict, in Ahmad Khan village in Razaar tehsil of Swabi district. (9.3.25)
20. Two men, identified as Saidur Rehman and Inyatur Rehman, were killed, and a woman was injured when two rival groups exchanged fire over a disputed track in Nail Kallay Bar Trass, Utmankhel tehsil, Bajaur district. (9.3.25)
21. Armed assailants martyred two Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel, ASI Mustafa and Head Constable Zahid, in Kohat city. The Gul Bahadur militant group claimed responsibility for the attack. (10.3.25)
22. Five people, including two brothers, Saddar Khan and Hazrat Ali, were killed, and one person was injured in an exchange of fire between two rival groups over a petty dispute in Ababakri locality of Charsadda. (10.3.25)
23. Unknown gunmen assassinated Jamiat local leader and former Nazim, Haji Hameed Gul, while he was on his way to attend a Jirga in Budhni, within the limits of Chamkani Police Station, Peshawar district. (10.3.25)
24. Security forces killed five terrorists, including two key commanders, Aryana and Abu Bakr, in an exchange of fire in Hadirkhel and Hormuz villages of North Waziristan district. (11.3.25)
25. Security forces eliminated ten terrorists, including a suspected suicide bomber who attempted to attack a check post in Jandols, South Waziristan district. (12.3.25)
26. Two brothers, Salahuddin and Abdul Wadood, were injured by unknown gunmen in Mamond tehsil of Amur district. (12.3.25)
27. JUI district Amir Maulana Abdullah Nadeem and three others were injured in an IED blast inside a mosque in the Azam Warak area of South Waziristan district. (14.3.25)
28. Unknown assailants shot dead a young man, identified as Farooq, near the Shinwari graveyard in Kohat. (13.3.25)
29. The bullet-riddled body of a youth, identified as Saeed Anwar, was found in the Shadikhel area along the Indus River, within the limits of Bilitang Police Station in Kohat district. (13.3.25)
30. Four people including Saadullah were killed and two injured in family dispute in Sherkhana village of Dera Ismail Khan (14.3.25).
31. A policeman, Faza, Rehan was killed by unknown armed assailants in Chootra locality in Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur district. Investigations are underway to determin whether it was an act of terrorism or a personal enmity (14.3.25).
32. Unknown terrorists struck attacks Bakakhel and Ghauriwala Police stations while hand grenade was hurled on the Khojari police post in Bannu district. No damage of human life was reported (15.3.25).
33. Cleric Mufti Munir Shakir, one of the founder of the outlawed Lashkar-i-Islam was killed and three others injured in an IED blast outside a mosque in Anar area of Peshawar. The explosion also caused partial damage to the mosque’s outside wall. Lashkar-i-Islam was formed by Mufti Shakir in Khyber district in 2004 and he and Pir Saifullah Rehman were forced to leave Bara after the local jirga verdict followingthe  bloody clashes between the supporters the two in 2005. Later a bus driver-turned militant Mangalore Bagh was elevated to the position of the outfit (15.3.25).

PUNJAB

1. Four suspects, including an accused named Noor Wali Khan, were reportedly killed in an encounter when their own accomplices opened fire in the Hazro area. The incident occurred while police were transporting Noor Wali Khan, who was accused of killing Police Constable Qadeer Khan, from Peshawar for further investigation. (28.2.25)
2. CTD police claimed to have arrested 20 suspected terrorists, including Saleh Raza, Muhammad Riaz, Abu Bakr, Awal Khan, Muhammad Younas, Usman, and Manmohan Singh, during raids conducted across various cities in Punjab. Later, in another statement, they disclosed the arrest of 10 more terrorists identified as Riaz, Shafiq, Rashid, Javed, Zaheer, Zaheerudin, Hafeez, Wazir, Asif, and Waheed during intelligence operations across the province. (1.3.25)
3. Police Head Constable Qurban Ali was allegedly shot dead by unidentified armed motorcyclists while returning home in the Chung area. Investigations are underway to apprehend the culprits and determine whether it was an act of terrorism or a different motive. (1.3.25)
4. Two robbers were killed, while two others escaped after an alleged encounter with police within the jurisdiction of Naseerabad Police Station in Rawalpindi. (2.3.25)
5. Police have launched an investigation into the recovery of the bodies of five newborns, all girls, found in garbage heaps at different locations over the last 15 days in Sialkot district. (2.3.25)
6. Armed men on motorcycles killed six people, identified as Zahid Nazim, Mubashar, Zaheer, Javed Iqbal, and Rukhsar Ali, by opening fire on their vehicle over a personal enmity near Miana Chak, Bhargan village, within the limits of Dinga Police Station in Gujrat district. The victims reportedly had an ongoing conflict with the rival “Akhter group” in the area. (2.3.25)
7. Two people, identified as Karimabad Bakhsh and Shahid Iqbal of the Malana community, were killed by unknown gunmen near Dera Chungi, Jampur city, in Rajanpur district. (3.3.25)
8. Police, CTD, and Rangers jointly thwarted two separate attacks by heavily armed terrorist groups at Murha and Lakhani check posts in the Punjab-KPK border area in Dera Ghazi Khan district. Reports indicate this was the 18^th such attempt which was foiled.
9. Police claimed to have arrested nine suspects out of 53 individuals booked recently in connection with a clash between the Sheikh and Wadani communities in Dera Ghazi Khan (13.3.25).
10. CTD police in a tip of raid arrested a possible ‘suicide bomber identified as Hafiz Shams who hailed from Baluchistan and affiliated with defunct TTP while another was injured but escaped during exchange of fire on Barki Road, Lahore (14.3.25).
11. Punjab Government Home Deparment releases a list of banned and unregistered groups

            Punjab Government Home Department released a list of proscribed organizations, urging citizens not to donate to banned or unregistered charities. The             statement warns that aiding these groups is punishable under the Anti-Terrorism        Act, 1997. The list included following banned and unregistered groups:-

1. Lashkhar-i-Jhangvi (LJ) 2. Sipaah-i-Muhammad Pakistan (SMP) 3. Jaish-i- Muhammad and its offshoots Al-Rehmat Trust, Bahawalpur Al Furqan Trust, Karachi 4. Lashkar-i-Taiba (LT) 5. Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) 6. Tahreek-i-Jafria Pakistan (TJP) 7. Tahreek-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i- Muhammad 8. Tahreek-i-Islami 9. Al-Qaida 10. Millat-I-Islamia Pakistan (formerly SSP) 11. Khudam-i-Islam (former Jaish Muhammad) 12. Islami Tahreek-i-Pakistan (formerly TJP) 13. Jamiat Al Ansar 14. Jamiat-i-Furqan 15. Hizabul Tahrir 16. Khairul-al-Nass International Trust (subsidiary of JuD) 17. Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) 18. Islamic Students Movement of Pakistan 19. Lashkar-i-Islam 20. Ansarul Islam 21. Haji Namdar Group 22. Tahreek-I-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 23. Baluchistan Republicn Army (BRA) 24. Baluchistan Liberation Front (BLF) 25. Lashkar-i-Baluchistan 26. Baluchistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) 27. Baluchistan Musallah Difa Organisation 28. Shia Students Action Committee Gilget 29. Markaz Sabeel Organisation Gilget 30. Tanzeem Naujawanan-i-Ahle Sunnat Gilbert 31. People Aman Committee Lyari 32. Ahel-Sunnat-wal Jamiat (former SSP) 33. Al-Harmain Foundation 34. Rabat Trust 35. Anjuman Imamia Gilgit-Baltistan 36. Muslim Students Organisation Gilget 37. Tanzeem Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamiat Gilgit 38. Baluchistan Bunyaad Parast Army 39. Tahreek-I-Nafaz-I- Aman 40. Tahafuz Hudoodullah 41. Baluchistan Waja Liberation Army 42. Baluch Republican Party Azad 43 Baluchistan United Army 44. Islami Mujahideen 45. Jaish-i-Islam 46. Baluchistan National Liberation Army 47. Khana Hikmatullah Gilgit- Baltistan 48. Tahreek-I-Taliban Swat 49. Tahreek-i- Taliban Mohmand 50. Tariq Geedar Group 51. Abdullah Azam Brigade 52. East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) 53. Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) 54. Islamic Jihad Union 55. 313 Brigade 56. Tahreek-I-Taliban Bajaur 57. Amar Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Anal Munkir (Haji Namdar Group) 58. Baluch Students Organisation Azad 59. United Baluch Army 60. Jaey Sindh Muttahida Mahaz 61. ISIS/IS/Daesh 62. Jamaatul Ahrar 63. Lashkar-i-Jehngavi Al-Alami 64. Ansarul Hussain 65. Tahreek Azadi Jammu and Kashmir 66. Jundullah 67. Al Rahma Welfare Trust Organisation 68. Balwarstan National Front (Abdul Hameed Khan Group) 69. Jammat-ud-Dawa (JUD) and its subsidiaries Anfal Trust Lahore, Idara-i-Khidmat Khalq Lahore, Al Dawa-ul- Arshad Lahore, Al-Hamd Trust Lahore/Fasilabad, Mosques and Welfare Trust, Lahore, Al Madinah Foundation Lahore and Maasz bin Jabal Educational Trust Lahore 70. Flah-i-Insaniat Foundation i. Al-Fazal Trust Foundation/Trust Lahore ii. Al-Esar Foundation Lahore 71. Hizabul Ahrar 72. Pak-Turk International CAG Education Foundation 73. Baluchistan Raji Aajoi Sanger (BRAS) 74. Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz 75. Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) 76. Sindhudesh Liberation Army (SLA) 77. Khatamul Anbiya 78. Ghazi Force 79. Ghulaman-I- Sahaba 80. Mayamar Trust 81. Sachal Sarmast Welafare Trust Karachi 82. Al Jaza Patient Welfare Society Karachi 83. Al Akhtar Trust 84. Al Rashid Trust 76 (6.3.25).

SINDH

1. Three policemen were injured in a grenade attack on Preedy Police Station in Karachi. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident yet, but it is suspected that the outlawed Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA), or Lyari gangs might be behind the attack. (1.3.25)
2. An armed robber attempting to flee after killing trader Babar Gul during a robbery was caught by bystanders, who severely beat him, leading to his death in the Quaidabad area of Karachi. Police intend to register an FIR against all individuals who took the law into their own hands and were involved in the lynching. (5.3.25)
3. The police Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell claimed to have arrested a police constable identified as Rana Kashif and recovered stolen vehicles, an official weapon, and narcotics from his possession in an upscale area of Karachi. He was allegedly the ringleader of a car-snatching gang and, during interrogation, confessed to snatching over two dozen vehicles in the city. (6.3.25)
4. Police claimed to have killed two dacoits, identified as Saddam and Wajid alias Wana, during an alleged encounter near the Naudaro Bypass in Larkana district. They were involved in the killings of local traders Santosh Kumar and Sanji Kumar. In another incident, three people were killed by unknown assailants, seemingly due to personal enmity, in Garhi Kharot Taluka, Jacobabad district. (6.3.25)
5. A courageous school van driver, carrying ten female school teachers, saved them from being kidnapped by locking the vehicle’s doors when six armed motorcyclists, believed to be members of the Macho Banglani gang, intercepted them in Sodho Khan village, Sukkur district. He refused to open the door despite severe threats, and the arrival of a growing number of villagers at the scene compelled the criminals to flee. The notorious gang is reportedly involved in multiple incidents of kidnapping and murder. (7.3.25)
6. Customs Anti-Smuggling staff, acting on a tip-off, searched an imported shipment and seized 10,008 mobile phone sets of ten different brands valued at Rs. 30.24 million, along with liquid tobacco flavors worth Rs. 30 million in Karachi. In a separate raid, Customs personnel, escorted by Rangers, raided the city’s largest mobile market in the Saddar area of Hyderabad and seized 137 smuggled cellphones worth millions. (6 & 7.3.25)
7. Three suspected robbers were shot dead by citizens in apparent self-defense in two separate incidents—one in the F.B. Industrial Area and another near the Metric Board Office in Karachi. (11.3.25)

DEFENCE / SECURITY

COAS Visits Bannu Cantt

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, during his visit to Bannu following the March 4 terrorist attack and the neutralization of all 16 terrorists, vowed to bring the planners and facilitators to justice, wherever they may be. He expressed profound condolences to the families of innocent civilians who lost their lives in the incident.

The COAS was briefed on the ongoing counterterrorism operations and the overall security situation in the area. Addressing the troops, he lauded their heroic actions, high morale, and steadfast resolve, reaffirming that the armed forces would continue to serve as a bulwark against terrorism to ensure the state’s security and stability.

He also visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) to check on the health and well-being of the injured soldiers during his visit to Bannu. (5.3.25)

Bahrain National Guard Commander Calls on CJCSC at JS HQ Rawalpindi

General Shaikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Commander of the Bahrain National Guard, called on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, NI (M), Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), at Joint Staff Headquarters (JS HQ), Rawalpindi.

During the meeting, both military leaders discussed the evolving regional environment and related security issues. (13.3.25)

DIPLOMATIC DEVELOPMENTS / SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

President Trump Appreciates Pakistan for Arresting Wanted ISIS-K Terrorist Involved in Kabul Airport Bombing

Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as Jafar, an operative of the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K), was arrested by Pakistani authorities and extradited to the United States. He appeared in a Virginia court on March 5, 2025, facing charges related to the 2021 Kabul airport bombing. This attack, which took place during the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians.

Sharifullah admitted to scouting the route to the airport for the suicide bomber. He also confessed to involvement in the March 2024 Moscow Crocus City Hall attack, where he provided instructions on weapon usage to would-be attackers.

In his first address to Congress in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump announced Sharifullah’s arrest, thanking Pakistan for its assistance in capturing the terrorist. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the accused orchestrated the Kabul bombing and has been charged with providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, resulting in death.

Upon arriving in the U.S., Sharifullah appeared in a court in Alexandria, near Washington, where he was officially assigned a public defender with an interpreter. A brief article written by former DG IB Tariq Lodhi about the incident can be viewed on StrategicBrief.com (4,5,6 & 7.3.25).

Foreign Office Condemns Unprovoked Firing by Afghan Forces at Torkham, Refutes Allegations of ISIS Camps in Pakistan

During the weekly press briefing, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, reported that Afghan authorities attempted to construct two border posts within Pakistan’s territory. When Pakistani forces intervened, Afghan forces responded with unprovoked firing, leading to the closure of the Torkham border.

Khan also addressed the extradition of terrorist Sharifullah to the U.S., emphasizing that it resulted from ongoing Pakistan-U.S. counterterrorism cooperation, with all legal protocols followed. He dismissed Afghan allegations of ISIS camps within Pakistan as baseless.

Regarding U.S. travel restrictions on Pakistani and Afghan nationals, Khan stated that no confirmed information was available but reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding friendly relations with the U.S. He also condemned the settlement of foreign nationals in Indian-occupied Kashmir, reiterating Pakistan’s opposition to demographic changes in the disputed region.

On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Khan maintained Pakistan’s neutral stance, supporting peace and fostering positive relations with both nations (6.3.25).

Pakistan Decides to Repatriate Afghan Citizen Card Holders (ACC) and Other Illegal Foreigners

The Government of Pakistan has decided to repatriate Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders along with other illegal foreigners. The Ministry of Interior has urged them to leave voluntarily by March 31, 2025; otherwise, deportation proceedings will begin accordingly (7.3.25).

Pakistan Accuses India and Afghanistan of Sponsoring Terrorism

Following the successful rescue operation of the Jaffar Express hijacking, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan accused the terrorists involved of having Afghan connections, with phone records traced to Afghanistan.

Addressing a question during the weekly press briefing about a possible policy shift, Khan clarified that Pakistan’s stance remains unchanged, reiterating that India continues to sponsor terrorism against Pakistan. However, as expected, India dismissed the allegations as baseless (13.3.25).

Prime Minister Visits Quetta to Chair High-Level Security Meeting

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by federal ministers and other officials, visited Quetta to chair a high-level meeting reviewing the security situation. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism.

During the briefing, participants were apprised of the prevailing security situation in Balochistan, ongoing counterterrorism efforts, and updates on the successful operation to clear the Jaffar Express.

The Prime Minister, along with Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, also visited CMH Quetta to meet the injured victims and their family members receiving medical treatment. He lauded the armed forces for their valor and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.

Later, while addressing a press conference, he called on Pakistan’s entire political leadership to sit down with the military leadership to discuss the challenges facing the country. He announced that a plan to convene an All Parties Conference (APC) was in progress to discuss the security situation in Balochistan.

He emphasized the need to achieve national consensus and vowed to provide security forces with the necessary resources to combat terrorism effectively (13.3.25).

DG ISPR and CM Balochistan Hold Joint Press Conference

Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. General Ahmed Sharif, speaking at a joint press conference with Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Sarfraz Bugti in Islamabad, stated that terrorists, their enablers, and facilitators would be confronted both inside and outside the country.

He asserted that India is the primary sponsor of terrorism in Balochistan, particularly in the wake of the recent attack on the Jaffar Express. He further alleged that Indian media outlets circulated AI-generated videos and broadcast fabricated stories about the terrorist incident.

Additionally, he accused Afghanistan of providing support to terrorism in Pakistan, stating that many of the assailants had links to Afghan-trained militants and suggesting that the masterminds behind such attacks were based near Pakistan’s northern border.

Lt. General Ahmed Sharif described the Jaffar Express operation as one of the most successful hostage rescue and counterterrorism missions conducted by the armed forces in recent years. He emphasized the precision and minimal casualties, considering the challenging terrain and the presence of suicide bombers.

CM Balochistan, Sarfraz Bugti, while acknowledging the international community for condemning the terrorist incident, denounced the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as a terrorist outfit. He stated that individuals affiliated with the group do not represent the Baloch community, identity, or rights.

He further alleged that India’s intelligence agency, RAW, is the primary orchestrator behind such elements, calling it the “grandmother” of terrorist networks.

The press briefing included slides and footage supporting these claims, along with a statement from Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was captured in Balochistan (14.3.25).

Part 2 – Regional Development

AFGHANISTAN

Pak-Afghan Border Skirmishes at Torkham

The Torkham crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province has remained closed since February 21, 2025, due to disputes over border infrastructure, leading to clashes that resulted in casualties on both sides. The skirmishes have forced thousands of residents near the border to flee their homes in search of safety from cross-border fire.

Although the situation at the border has remained calm in recent days, the crossing remains closed. A Jirga consisting of local tribal elders and business community representatives from both sides has been making efforts to mediate; however, no positive outcome has been achieved so far.

The prolonged closure of the Torkham crossing has stranded thousands of trucks carrying essential goods, further worsening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis and causing significant financial losses. Both nations have emphasized the need for dialogue to resolve the dispute, with the aim of reopening the vital crossing and alleviating the hardships faced by civilians and traders (14.3.25).

Speculations About Internal Rift Within the Taliban-Led IEA

According to unconfirmed media reports, an internal power struggle has been growing within the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA). The rift is reportedly between IEA Supreme Leader Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada and key figures such as Sirajuddin Haqqani, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai (a former alumnus of the Indian Military Academy).

Interestingly, Stanikzai, who previously studied at an Indian military academy, publicly criticized Akhundzada’s strict policies, including restrictions on women’s rights, calling them un-Islamic. This intensified tensions within the leadership. Following this, he reportedly left the country, possibly relocating to the UAE or another destination.

Meanwhile, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Interior Minister, along with other leaders referred to as the “Kabul Group”, has distanced itself from the government.

While no official confirmation has been provided by either side, the alleged rift suggests a deeper division between the hardline “Kandahari Group”, influenced by Akhundzada, and the more pragmatic “Kabul Group” (15.3.25).

INDIA

Indian Military Affairs and Exercise

Indian Army Chief’s address

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi addressing an interactive session at the India Today Conclave said that there is a “high degree of collusivity” due to proximity between Pakistan and China therefor, the two front threat is reality. He also fielded a broad range of questions about the army’s preparedness for future, lessons from on going conflicts, the situation in Bangladesh, Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LOC). With regard to reports suggesting growing proximity between Pakistan and Bangladesh, he said according to him the epicentre of terrorism is in a particular country which have relationship with any of the India’s neighbouring country. From where terrorism route can be used from that country also is a major concern for him today. Further said that it is however, too early to take a call on the role of Bangladesh, where a change in government may bring about a change in its relationship with India. According to an verified report India is concerned about deployment of Turkish made Bayraktat TB2 drones (UAVs) by Bangladesh adjacent to its shared border in West Bengal. It prompted India to increase its surveillance and vigilance to the such areas.

A number of security analysts are of the view that the development comes at time when India-Bangladesh ties are strained, with a rise in the anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. Indian media and radical Hindu extremist groups have been projecting baseless stories by linking increasing bilateral relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh as serious threat to India. Thus, India which once used to deeply influence the political, economic and military affairs of the country has lost the same after explosion of pro-India Sheikh Hussina Wajid government. Therefor, it is not out of context to mention that India may not be silent over the development and continue making efforts overtly and covertly re-establish its influence over there (8.3.25).

Military Exercises

i) Indian Navy’s largest biennial maritime three month exercise “TROPEX” involving assembly of 65 frontline Indian Navy ships including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya supported by 9 submarines, over 80 aircraft’s alongwith 600 Indian army and coast guard personnel conducted between January and March in the Indo-Pacific region. This exercise highlights demonstrating readiness to uphold regional security and a strategic response to the expanding naval presence of other powers in the region including China (10.3.25).

ii)  Joint Egyptian-India military exercise “Cyclone-3” by the special forces from 10-23 Febaruary concluded in Mahjan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, India.

1.  6th edition of the India-Japan joint military exercise “Dharma Guardian” at the East Fuji Training area in Japan from 25th Febaruary-9 March, 2025. Indian Army’s Trishakti Corps (XXX111 Corps) under the Eastern Command with HQ at Sukna, West Bengal concluded one-month live firing exercise featuring T-90 tanks to improve combat readiness and validated armoured warfare strategies in high-altitude scenario. This corps is responsible for defending Sikkim and the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor.

iv)  Indian army and Air Force (IAF) in recent past reportedly conducted a synergies exercise in Jammu region of Indian Ilegal Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) to enhance interoperability between ground and air forces. Under the aegis of Tiger Division (26th infantry Division) which recently conducted an integrated surveillance and fire power exercise in Jammu. the training simulated real-world operational conditions with IAF helicopters executing precise airlifts of army troops from designated mounting bases. These troops were then inserted into areas with dense vegetation and thick undergrowth, where past encounters with militants have occurred to execute a simulated combat assault to neutralise threats in high risk environment. The division also include 18 Grenadier regiment, 2 Naga regiment, Regiment of artillery and 8 infantry Ghatak Platoon (13.3.25).

Diplomatic Development

United States

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced that she will visit India as part of a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific region. According to The Hindu, her visit aims to strengthen relationships and establish open lines of communication to support President Donald Trump’s objectives of peace and freedom. Her itinerary includes stops in Japan, Thailand, and India (11.3.25).

Iran

China-Iran-Russia Joint Naval Drills

China, Iran, and Russia conducted joint naval drills named Maritime Security Belt 2025 in the Gulf of Oman, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Middle East. This waterway is crucial as it facilitates the passage of nearly one-fifth of the world’s traded crude oil.

This drill marked the fifth consecutive year of cooperation between the three nations. According to geopolitical experts, the exercise has raised concerns among Western navies and their maritime trade operations. It also signals growing strategic alignment between China, Iran, and Russia in a geopolitically sensitive region (11.3.25).

Iran’s Response to U.S. Diplomatic Efforts

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Syed Ali Khamenei, reportedly rejected President Donald Trump’s diplomatic overtures, calling them a tactic aimed at imposing U.S. control over Iran. He emphasized that Iran will not succumb to pressure or manipulation, asserting that the offer was insincere and intended to weaken Iran’s independence.

However, according to IRNA, Iran’s government later indicated a willingness to engage in limited nuclear talks with the United States, focusing on concerns regarding potential militarization rather than dismantling its peaceful nuclear program.

Commenting on President Trump’s letter proposing the resumption of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, Khamenei confirmed that they had received the letter and stated that a formal response would be issued after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs completes its evaluation (14.3.25).

Middle East

Hamas & U.S. Policy on Gaza

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s apparent reversal on his previously proposed permanent displacement of over two million Palestinians from Gaza.

Neighboring Egypt also expressed appreciation for Trump’s revised stance on the issue. Reports suggest that Trump’s change in position followed a high-level meeting between Arab foreign ministers and the U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Qatar on March 12, 2025.

Foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, along with the Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), attended the meeting. According to Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Gaza reconstruction plan, approved at the Arab League Summit in Cairo on March 4, 2025, was a key discussion point.

The ministers agreed to continue consultations and coordination with the U.S. envoy regarding the plan, which is seen as the foundation for future reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

On Saturday, the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formally adopted the Gaza reconstruction plan proposed by the Arab League at an emergency meeting in Saudi Arabia.

The initiative, led by Egypt, aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority (PA). It was proposed in response to Trump’s previous threats to take control of Gaza and displace its residents (12.3.25).