Pakistan police book separatist BLA’s leadership for suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals 

Pakistan police book separatist BLA’s leadership for suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals 
Firefighters work on the site of an explosion which occured near Karachi airport in Karachi, on late October 6, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 09 October 2024
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Pakistan police book separatist BLA’s leadership for suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals 

Pakistan police book separatist BLA’s leadership for suicide attack targeting Chinese nationals 
  • BLA claimed responsibility for Karachi blast that killed three, including two Chinese nationals, on Sunday night
  • BLA leadership planned attack to damage Pakistan’s ties with China, harm national security, says complaint 

KARACHI: Pakistani police this week registered a case against the leadership of the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militant group for being involved in a suicide attack that targeting Chinese nationals in Karachi, saying that the attack was intended to damage Islamabad’s ties with Beijing. 
Three people, including two Chinese nationals, were killed while 10 others were injured on Sunday night in a blast near the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. The BLA had claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had used a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) to target the Chinese citizens. 
According to a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Inspector Kaleem Khan Moosa of the Airport Police Station, police said BLA chief Bashir Ahmed Baloch and other leaders of the outfit had planned the attack to undermine Pakistan’s ties with China. The complaint confirmed that a VBIED was used to target the Chinese nationals. 
“An unidentified terrorist brought his Toyota Hilux vehicle very close to the convoy,” the copy of the FIR obtained by Arab News on Wednesday, said. 
“He detonated his vehicle in a suicide attack, resulting in the destruction of the convoy vehicles carrying foreign Chinese and other security officials, including Rangers, police, and other nearby vehicles, leading to casualties and injuries.”
Multiple sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act, Explosive Substance Act and Pakistan Penal Code were included in the FIR. It said the BLA leaders had planned the attack with help from accomplices with “the intent of instigating terrorism in the country.” 
“They allegedly brainwashed the unknown suicide bomber,” the FIR said, adding that the group had possibly obtained the “assistance of a foreign enemy intelligence agency.”
“Their goal was to undermine the relations between Pakistan and China, affect national security through economic disruption, and achieve financial benefits for their banned organization while instilling a sense of insecurity among the public and diminishing the morale of national security institutions,” it said. 
The complaint said that the suicide bomber was driving a vehicle with the number plate KW0375. As per the Excise and Taxation department’s records seen by Arab News, the vehicle is registered under the name of Shah Fahad, who the BLA claimed was responsible for carrying out the attack.
BLA ATTACKS ON CHINESE NATIONALS
Sunday night’s attack was the latest by the BLA, the most prominent of a number of separatist groups fighting for independence for Pakistan’s gas-and-mineral-rich Balochistan province, where a low-lying insurgency has been ongoing for the past two decades. 
Baloch militants blame Pakistan’s state for exploiting the province’s resources, a charge the Pakistani state denies. The BLA also accuses Beijing of helping Islamabad exploit the province and has attacked Chinese interests and projects in the past, in particular the strategic port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea. It has previously killed Chinese citizens working in the region and attacked Beijing’s consulate in Karachi. 
China is a major ally and investor in Pakistan, having pledged over $65 billion in road, infrastructure, and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. 

BLA carried out its first suicide attack on a convoy of Chinese engineers in Dalbandin on August 11, 2018, by its suicide bomber Rehan Aslam Baloch.
In March this year, a suicide bombing killed five Chinese engineers and a Pakistani driver in northwestern Pakistan as they headed to the Dasu Dam, the biggest hydropower project in the country. In 2022, three Chinese educators and their Pakistani driver were killed when an explosion ripped through a van at the University of Karachi.
Sunday’s airport attack followed a deadly day of coordinated attacks in August, most claimed by the BLA, that killed more than 50 people in Balochistan and which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders had said sought to harm Chinese-funded investment and development projects.


Pakistan air force’s ‘timely’ response compels four Indian jets to retreat — state media

Pakistan air force’s ‘timely’ response compels four Indian jets to retreat — state media
Updated 21 sec ago
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Pakistan air force’s ‘timely’ response compels four Indian jets to retreat — state media

Pakistan air force’s ‘timely’ response compels four Indian jets to retreat — state media
  • APP says Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries near de facto LoC border
  • Minister says Islamabad had “credible intelligence” New Delhi intended to launch military action within 36 hours

ISLAMABAD: A “timely” response by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had “forced” four Indian Rafale jets to retreat after payrolling near the two nations’ de facto border, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Wednesday, as a top minister said Islamabad had “credible intelligence” New Delhi intended to launch military action within 36 hours.
Tensions have surged between the nuclear-armed neighbors following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22 that New Delhi has said Pakistan was involved in, which denies the charges. Fears have risen since that India may conduct limited airstrikes or special forces raids near its border with Pakistan.
Since the attack, in addition to shooting over the Line of Control frontier that divides disputed Kashmir between the two nations, India and Pakistan have announced tit-for-tat diplomatic measures that included cancelation of visas and a recall of diplomats. New Delhi also suspended a crucial water-sharing treaty with Islamabad and ordered its border shut with Pakistan. In response, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines.
“On the night of April 29/30, four Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries” near the LoC, APP reported, saying PAF “immediately” detected the jets. 
“A timely and swift response by the Pakistan Air Force forced four Indian Rafale jets to retreat … The Pakistani armed forces remain fully prepared and alert to give a befitting response to any aggression from India.”
Late on Tuesday night, Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Pakistan had “credible intelligence” India was planning military action against it in the “next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident.”
The statement came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reportedly authorized his country’s armed forces to respond to the latest attack in whatever way it deemed fit.
India has in recent years significantly enhanced its air combat capabilities with the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets from France. In 2016, India procured 36 Rafale jets for its air force, all of which have been delivered and are operational.
India also signed a $7.4 billion agreement with France this month to purchase an additional 26 Rafale jets — 22 single-seaters and four twin-seaters — for its navy, with deliveries expected by 2030. 
India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in full and rule it in part since 1947.


Pakistan urges simpler climate finance for vulnerable nations at Geneva forum

Pakistan urges simpler climate finance for vulnerable nations at Geneva forum
Updated 17 min 35 sec ago
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Pakistan urges simpler climate finance for vulnerable nations at Geneva forum

Pakistan urges simpler climate finance for vulnerable nations at Geneva forum
  • Environment Minister Musadik Malik says global development not possible without climate justice
  • He says Pakistan is highly climate-vulnerable despite contributing less than 1 percent to global emissions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Environment Minister Musadik Malik on Wednesday urged the international community to ease access to climate finance for vulnerable nations, saying Pakistan contributes less than one percent to global emissions but remains among the hardest hit by climate change.
Speaking in Geneva at a UN Capital Development Fund session on the sidelines of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions, Malik said developing countries like Pakistan face mounting climate threats despite minimal emissions and need more support from global financial institutions.
The BRS conventions are multilateral environmental agreements which focus on hazardous chemicals and waste management.
“Pakistan is among the countries most severely affected by climate change,” the Pakistani minister said, according to an official statement, adding this was despite the fact that it “contributes less than one percent to global carbon emissions.”
“The federal minister emphasized the need to simplify climate finance support,” the statement continued.
Malik reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty aimed at limiting global warming to below 2°C.
He said Pakistan was actively pursuing its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with a focus on green growth, renewable energy and sustainable water systems.
Pakistan has faced recurring heatwaves, droughts and devastating floods.
In 2022, unprecedented monsoon rains left a third of the country submerged, killing about 1,700 people and leading to over $35 billion in infrastructure damage.
Pakistan also played a leading role in establishing the global loss and damage fund for climate-hit countries, though the mechanism has yet to become fully functional.
“Global development is not possible without climate justice,” Malik said, as he appealed for effective cooperation from international financial institutions for developing countries.


Pakistani nationals leave India as tensions between the two nations escalate over Kashmir attack

Pakistani nationals leave India as tensions between the two nations escalate over Kashmir attack
Updated 24 min 48 sec ago
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Pakistani nationals leave India as tensions between the two nations escalate over Kashmir attack

Pakistani nationals leave India as tensions between the two nations escalate over Kashmir attack
  • New Delhi decided to order almost all Pakistani citizens to leave the country after last week’s deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir
  • The deadline for Pakistani citizens to leave the country, with exceptions for those who are on medical visas in India, passed on Sunday

ATTARI, India: Dozens of Pakistani nationals living in India headed to the main land crossing between India and Pakistan on Wednesday, following New Delhi’s decision to order almost all Pakistani citizens to leave the country after last week’s deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The deadline for Pakistani citizens to leave the country — with exceptions for those who are on medical visas in India — passed on Sunday, but many families were still scrambling to the Indian side of the border in Attari town in northern Punjab state to cross into Pakistan.
Some were arriving on their own and others were being deported by police.
“We have settled our families here. We request the government not to uproot our families,” said Sara Khan, a Pakistani national who was ordered back to Pakistan without her husband, Aurangzeb Khan, who holds an Indian passport.
Waiting on the Indian side of the border crossing, Khan carried her 14-day-old child in her arms. She said Indian authorities did not give her any time to recuperate from a caesarean section and that her long-term visa was valid until July 2026.
“They (authorities) told me you are illegal and you should go,” said Khan, who has been living in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 2017. “They gave us no time. I could not even change my shoes.”
Tensions between rivals India and Pakistan have escalated after gunmen killed 26 people, most of them Indian tourists, near the resort town of Pahalgam in disputed Kashmir.
At least three tourists who survived the massacre told The Associated Press that the gunmen singled out Hindu men and shot them from close range. The dead included a Nepalese citizen and a local Muslim pony ride operator.
India has described the massacre as a “terror attack” and accused Pakistan of backing it. Pakistan has denied any connection to the attack, which was claimed by a previously unknown militant group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance.
The massacre set off tit-for-tat diplomatic measures between India and Pakistan that included cancelation of visas and a recall of diplomats. New Delhi also suspended a crucial water-sharing treaty with Islamabad and ordered its border shut with Pakistan. In response, Pakistan has closed its airspace to Indian airlines.
As tensions escalate, cross-border firings between Indian and Pakistani soldiers have also increased along the Line of Control, the de facto frontier that separates Kashmiri territory between the two rivals.
Kashmir is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety. New Delhi describes all militancy in Indian-controlled Kashmir as Pakistan-backed terrorism. Pakistan denies this, and many Muslim Kashmiris consider the militants to be part of a home-grown freedom struggle.
Meanwhile, India’s cabinet committee on security, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met on Wednesday. It was their second such meeting since the attack.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in separate phone calls with India and Pakistan, stressed the need to “avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences.” The US State Department also called for de-escalation and said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be speaking soon to the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers.
The two nations have frequently come to blows over Kashmir in the past, but last week’s massacre has escalated tensions and Modi has repeatedly vowed to pursue and punish the attackers.
Early Wednesday, Pakistan said it had “credible intelligence” that India intends to carry out military action against it in the “next 24-36 hours on the pretext of baseless and concocted allegations of involvement in the Pahalgam incident.”
There was no immediate comment from Indian officials.
 


Pakistan positions itself as ‘leading digital nation’ at inaugural online FDI forum

Pakistan positions itself as ‘leading digital nation’ at inaugural online FDI forum
Updated 30 April 2025
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Pakistan positions itself as ‘leading digital nation’ at inaugural online FDI forum

Pakistan positions itself as ‘leading digital nation’ at inaugural online FDI forum
  • Pakistan ranks among top 10 nations by online population, with 140 million Internet and 73 million smartphone users
  • PM Sharif says Pakistan stands on brink of digital transformation, backed by investor confidence and young workforce

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized the country’s young and dynamic population was capable of positioning it as a competitive provider of high-quality information technology services while addressing the Digital Foreign Direct Investment (DFDI) forum in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The two-day forum, inaugurated on April 29, is co-hosted by Pakistan and the Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO). It has brought together over 400 delegates and more than 200 IT and telecom companies from over 30 countries.
The DCO, established in November 2020, is a global multilateral organization that seeks to accelerate the inclusive growth of the digital economy. Its founding members include Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Pakistan.
Pakistan is also set to assume the DCO presidency, reflecting the South Asian state’s commitment to digital transformation.
“Digital services exports have become a cornerstone of [Pakistan’s] economic strategy,” Dar said. “Pakistan’s growing pool of highly skilled tech professionals is creating world-class solutions for clients across the globe.”
“With our young, dynamic workforce and expanding capabilities, we are positioning Pakistan as a reliable and competitive source of high-quality digital services,” he continued.
Dar highlighted the country’s demographics as a significant advantage, adding Pakistan had over 140 million Internet users and 73 million smartphone users, making it among the top 10 countries globally in terms of online population.
He also emphasized the opportunities within the DCO region.
“The potential of the DCO region is immense,” he pointed out. “With a combined GDP of $3.5 trillion and a population of over 800 million, it is one of the most promising frontiers for digital investment.”
“At this forum, we are not just identifying investment-ready markets and emerging startup ecosystems,” he continued. “We are spotlighting scalable innovations in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing and other frontier technologies.”
He highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to building world-class digital infrastructure and invited global investors to benefit as well.
“Let me emphasize that Pakistan offers a compelling proposition to global investors,” he said. “With investor-friendly policies, regulatory reforms and a cost advantage of up to 70 percent compared to North America, Pakistan creates the ideal environment for sustainable and profitable growth.”
A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Pakistan had secured approximately $700 million in foreign investment commitments by hosting the forum, underscoring the country’s appeal as a digital investment destination.
Sharif also met DCO Secretary-General Deemah AlYahya earlier today and called the forum a “transformative moment” for the country’s digital economy.
“Pakistan’s most valuable asset is our young workforce,” he said. “Equipping them with digital skills and training is among our top priorities.”
The prime minister said the DFDI forum and its international participation reflected Pakistan’s potential to lead in the global digital economy.
He also met executives from major IT firms participating in the two-day forum, including Russoft, sAi Venture Capital, Mashreq Bank and Mindhyve.ai, who collectively pledged about $700 million in digital sector investment.
“Pakistan stands on the threshold of a transformative leap,” he told delegates, reaffirming his government’s support and commitment to building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships.
Sharif said Pakistan’s goal was to become a regional hub for technology, finance and innovation, aligned with its ongoing fiscal reforms and digital infrastructure expansion.


Bangladesh to tour Pakistan for five-match T20 series in May

Bangladesh to tour Pakistan for five-match T20 series in May
Updated 30 April 2025
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Bangladesh to tour Pakistan for five-match T20 series in May

Bangladesh to tour Pakistan for five-match T20 series in May
  • Bangladesh last toured Pakistan in August 2024 and achieved a historic 2-0 Test series victory
  • The upcoming five-match series in May is scheduled to prepare for T20 World Cup next year

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh will tour Pakistan in May for a five-match Twenty20 International series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday, confirming the shift from the originally planned three One Day Internationals and three T20s to an all-T20 format ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.​

The announcement of the series, scheduled from May 25 to June 3, comes as Pakistan hosts the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches.

Bangladesh last toured Pakistan in August 2024 for a Test series, where they achieved a historic 2-0 whitewash, marking their first Test win on Pakistani soil.

“Bangladesh team will arrive on 21 May and will undergo training sessions at the Iqbal Stadium [Faisalabad] from 22 to 24 May,” the PCB said in a statement.​

The upcoming T20 series will be played in Faisalabad and Lahore.

Iqbal Stadium, which last hosted an international match in 2008, will stage the first two T20Is on May 25 and 27.

The remaining three matches will be held at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium on May 30, June 1 and June 3. All matches are scheduled to begin at 8:00 PM local time.​

The series is part of the ICC’s Future Tours Program (FTP). The decision to replace the ODIs with additional T20Is was made mutually by both boards to better prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, said the PCB.