Gunmen kill three border guards in attack in southeastern Iran near Pakistan frontier

Gunmen kill three border guards in attack in southeastern Iran near Pakistan frontier
In this file photo, taken on February 25, 2020, Pakistani and Iranian flags flutter on the closed Pakistan-Iran border in Taftan. (AFP/File)
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Updated 13 September 2024
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Gunmen kill three border guards in attack in southeastern Iran near Pakistan frontier

Gunmen kill three border guards in attack in southeastern Iran near Pakistan frontier
  • IRNA state news agency reported that militant group Jaish Al-Adl claimed responsibility for the attack
  • At least 22 policemen were killed in April in two separate clashes in Sistan and Baluchistan province

TEHRAN: Gunmen killed three border guards and wounded one other person Thursday in restive southeastern Iran, state-run media reported.
IRNA news agency reported that gunmen in a car opened fire on a border regiment vehicle in Mirjaveh county in southeast Sistan and Baluchistan province, near the Pakistani border, killing two soldiers and an officer. A civilian was wounded.
IRNA said the militant group Jaish Al-Adl, which allegedly seeks greater rights for the ethnic Baloch minority, claimed responsibility for the attack.
In April, in two separate clashes in the province, at least 22 Iranian policemen died.
The province, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been the site of occasional deadly clashes involving militant groups, armed drug smugglers, and Iranian security forces. In December, militants killed nearly a dozen police officers in an attack on a police station in the province.
Sistan and Baluchistan province is one of the least developed parts of Iran.


Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad tomorrow 

Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad tomorrow 
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Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad tomorrow 

Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief to sign several aid deals in Islamabad tomorrow 
  • Established in 2015, the Saudi charity organization has one of the largest humanitarian budgets available to any aid agency across the world
  • Pakistan is the fifth largest beneficiary of KSrelief’s humanitarian aid and has greatly benefited from its assistance since 2022 monsoon floods

ISLAMABAD: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) is set to sign several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various organizations in Islamabad on Tuesday, Pakistani state media reported.

The Saudi charity organization has one of the largest humanitarian budgets available to any aid agency across the world, which has allowed its officials to undertake a wide variety of projects in more than 80 countries. Pakistan is the fifth largest beneficiary of its aid and humanitarian activities and has greatly benefited from its assistance since 2022 monsoon floods.

The event at which the agreements are to be signed will be attended by Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, along with Pakistani government officials as well as representatives of international and local humanitarian organizations, the APP news agency reported on Monday, citing the Saudi Press Attaché Dr. Naif Al-Otaibi.

“These agreements will encompass aid and construction projects in multiple underprivileged regions of Pakistan, in alignment with KSrelief’s comprehensive aid plans,” he was quoted as saying by the APP.

Established in 2015, KSrelief aims for high humanitarian goals in its operations to provide assistance to the needy and disaster victims anywhere in the world, according to Dr. Naif.

These tasks are carried out by the United Nations (UN) bodies and international and local non-profit organizations under the right monitoring procedures and modern methods of rapid transition.

“These aid projects cover all areas of relief and humanitarian work, including food security, camp management, shelter, initial rehabilitation, conservation, education, water and environmental reform, nutrition, health, humanitarian aid support, including logistics services, and emergency communications,” he was quoted as saying.


Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest

Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest
Updated 07 October 2024
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Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest

Senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers killed in gunfight with militants laid to rest
  • Lt. Col. Muhammad Ali Shoukat and other soldiers were killed in an encounter with militants in North Waziristan
  • Pakistan blames a recent surge in militancy on groups operating from Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegation

ISLAMABAD: A senior army officer among six Pakistani soldiers, who were killed in a gunfight with militants in Pakistan’s restive northwest last week, were laid to rest in their native towns with full military honors, the Pakistani military said on Monday.

Lt. Col. Muhammad Ali Shoukat and five other soldiers were killed in an encounter with militants in the North Waziristan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

The gunfight late Friday night also left six militants dead in the restive district that borders Afghanistan.

“A large number of serving senior military officers, military personnel, families of martyrs and local elders attended the funeral prayers,” the ISPR said in a statement. “These sacrifices of our martyrs strengthen our determination and courage in the ongoing war against terrorism.”

Pakistan has seen a rise in militant attacks in recent months and says militants mainly associated with the Pakistani Taliban frequently launch attacks from hideouts in neighboring Afghanistan, targeting police and other security forces.

Islamabad has even blamed Kabul’s Afghan Taliban rulers for facilitating anti-Pakistan militant groups. Kabul denies the charges.


Who are Pakistan’s ethnic militants behind attack near Karachi airport?

Who are Pakistan’s ethnic militants behind attack near Karachi airport?
Updated 07 October 2024
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Who are Pakistan’s ethnic militants behind attack near Karachi airport?

Who are Pakistan’s ethnic militants behind attack near Karachi airport?
  • Separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, which they said had targeted Chinese nationals
  • The BLA specifically targets Chinese interests, in particular Gwadar port on Arabian Sea, accusing Beijing of helping Islamabad exploit Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: Two Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion near the international airport of the southern Pakistani city of Karachi on Sunday night, the Chinese embassy in Pakistan said, in what it described as a “terrorist attack.”
Separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, which they said had targeted Chinese nationals, including engineers. Here are some facts about the group, which has specifically targeted Chinese interests in the past.
WHAT ARE THE BLA’S GOALS?
The BLA seeks independence for Balochistan, a province located in Pakistan’s southwest and bordering on Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west. It is the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups that have battled the federal government for decades, saying it unfairly exploits Balochistan’s rich gas and mineral resources.
Balochistan is home to key mining projects, including Reko Diq, run by mining giant Barrick Gold and believed to be one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines. China also operates a gold and copper mine in the province.
WHAT ARE THE BLA’S TARGETS?
The BLA often targets key infrastructure projects and security posts in Balochistan, but has also launched attacks in other areas — most notably in Karachi, where a convoy from the Port Qasim Electric Power Company was attacked near the airport on Sunday.
In August, the BLA launched several coordinated attacks in Balochistan, killing more than 70 people.
The BLA specifically targets Chinese interests, in particular the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, accusing Beijing of helping Islamabad to exploit the province.
It has previously killed Chinese citizens working in the region and attacked Beijing’s consulate in Karachi. The BLA showed its muscle when it stormed army and naval bases in 2022, and has expanded its traditional use of guerrilla gunmen to include women suicide bombers, as seen in an attack on Chinese nationals on a university campus in Karachi, also in 2022. The group has also targeted both military and Chinese officials, including launching an attack on Gwadar in March. The BLA, separately, was also at the center of tit-for-tat strikes earlier this year between Iran and Pakistan over what they called militant bases on each other’s territory, which brought the two neighbors close to war.
THE ATTACK’S SIGNIFICANCE
Pakistan is preparing to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in the capital Islamabad next week, which authorities have vowed to secure, as high-level Chinese representation is expected, as well as the first visit to the country by an Indian foreign minister in a decade.
Beijing and Islamabad are working together in the aftermath of Sunday’s attack, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying that the country would “leave no stone unturned” to ensure the security and well-being of its “Chinese friends.”
Balochistan is an important part of China’s $65 billion investment in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a wing of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative.
The decades-old insurgency has continued to keep the province of some 15 million people unstable and created security concerns around Pakistan’s plans to access untapped resources under Balochistan’s desert and mountainous terrain. It is Pakistan’s largest province by size, but the smallest by population and strategically located.
Balochistan also has a long Arabian Sea coastline in the south, not far from the Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz oil shipping lane. Hundreds of Balochs, many of them women, have protested in Islamabad and in Balochistan recently over alleged abuses by security forces — accusations the Pakistani government denies.
 


Pakistan says security of foreign dignitaries ‘top priority’ ahead of SCO summit 

Pakistan says security of foreign dignitaries ‘top priority’ ahead of SCO summit 
Updated 07 October 2024
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Pakistan says security of foreign dignitaries ‘top priority’ ahead of SCO summit 

Pakistan says security of foreign dignitaries ‘top priority’ ahead of SCO summit 
  • The inter-governmental Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit is scheduled to be held in Islamabad on Oct. 15-16
  • Security fears have surged after three people, including two Chinese nationals, were killed in a Karachi blast on Sunday

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson said on Monday that the security of high-level foreign dignitaries expected to arrive in Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit next week is a “top priority” for the government, as the South Asian country deals with a surge in militant attacks in the country. 

The foreign office spokesperson’s comments came a day after three people, including two Chinese nationals, were killed and 10 were injured in a blast near Karachi airport on Sunday night. The attack was claimed by the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which said it used a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device to target the Chinese nationals.

Pakistan, the current chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, will host the summit in Islamabad from Oct. 15-16 which is expected to feature participation from senior dignitaries from China, India and Russia. To bolster security ahead of the summit, Pakistan’s government has deployed the army in the capital till Oct. 17. 

“With regards to the security around the conference that is a top priority of the government of Pakistan and measures are being taken to ensure the safety and security of all guests to come to Pakistan for the SCO Heads of Government meeting,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters during a media briefing.

“We are ready to welcome all our distinguished guests and to make their visit and stay in Pakistan as comfortable as possible.”

Last week also saw clashes between police and former prime minister Imran Khan’s supporters in the Pakistani capital. Hundreds of Khan supporters arrived in Islamabad on Friday to protest against the government’s proposed constitutional amendments that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party says are aimed at curtailing the independence of the judiciary. The government denies the allegations. 

One constable was killed while 31 other cops were injured in clashes between Khan supporters and Islamabad Police over the weekend, while police said they arrested over 900 “miscreants” involved in the violent protests. 

Baloch said Pakistan was expecting senior diplomats from member states to attend the summit, including representatives from the observer state of Mongolia and special guest Turkmenistan. The spokesperson said representatives of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Commonwealth of Independent States and the European Economic Community were also expected to attend the high-level summit. 

“The SCO meeting will discuss cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, environment, socio-cultural linkages, as well as reviewing the performance of the organization,” she said. Baloch said the world leaders present at the summit would adopt organizational decisions to further enhance cooperation among member states and improve the inter-governmental body’s budget. 

Baloch spoke about the Oct. 4 Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan, saying that Pakistan and other participating countries expressed deep concern over the country’s security situation. 

“The Moscow Format countries noted the continued threat posed by terrorist and separatist groups to global and regional stability,” she said. 

Baloch said Pakistan was led in the consultations by additional foreign secretary of Afghanistan and West Asia, Ambassador Ahmed Naseem Waraich. 

“They [Moscow format countries] emphasized the need for Afghanistan to take comprehensive measures to combat terrorism and prevent its territory from being used against neighboring countries and the wider region,” she said.


High-level Saudi delegation to visit Pakistan from Oct. 9-11 amid Islamabad’s investment push 

High-level Saudi delegation to visit Pakistan from Oct. 9-11 amid Islamabad’s investment push 
Updated 07 October 2024
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High-level Saudi delegation to visit Pakistan from Oct. 9-11 amid Islamabad’s investment push 

High-level Saudi delegation to visit Pakistan from Oct. 9-11 amid Islamabad’s investment push 
  • Saudi delegation’s visit aims to enhance bilateral cooperation, “mutually rewarding economic partnership,” says foreign office
  • Condemns Israel’s “war crimes” in Middle East, urges world powers to impose an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza

KARACHI: Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih will visit Pakistan with a high-level delegation from Oct. 9-11, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson said on Monday, stressing that the visit would aim to enhance bilateral cooperation and economic partnership between the two allies. 

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been closely working in recent months to increase bilateral trade and investment deals, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to expedite an investment package of $5 billion to the South Asian country earlier this year. 

Pakistan has increasingly engaged with regional partners, especially Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Middle East, for mutually rewarding economic ties and partnerships. Islamabad sees lucrative foreign trade and investment deals as its key to escape a prolonged economic crisis that has drained its resources, triggered high inflation and weakened its currency. 

“A high-level Saudi delegation led by Minister for Investment Engineer Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih will visit Pakistan from 9th to 11th of October 2024,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson, told reporters at a press briefing. She said Al-Falih’s delegation will comprise people from Saudi Arabia’s government agencies and private sector, which will meet Pakistan’s prime minister and president during the visit. 

“This visit is aimed at lending positive impetus to enhanced bilateral cooperation and mutually rewarding economic partnership,” she added. 

Separately, Baloch paid tribute to the 42,000 people killed by Israeli armed forces since its war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. She said Pakistan remains “deeply concerned” about the people of Gaza and Palestine as they suffer starvation and genocide. 

“The past year has seen Israel’s indiscriminate and horrifying attacks on civilian targets, including hospitals, schools, and shelters,” she noted. 

The foreign office spokesperson called on the United Nations Security Council to act decisively and impose an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling for Israel to be held accountable for its “war crimes” in the Middle East. 

Baloch criticized Israel’s foreign minister’s statement banning UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering Israel, saying Islamabad condemns measures that hinder the functioning of the UN and its agencies in occupied Palestine. 

“And in that respect, we urge the international community to take measures to protect that role of the United Nations,” she said. “We also welcome the decision by the UN Security Council condemning the latest measure regarding the UN Secretary-General by the Israeli occupation authorities.”