Author: Sajjad Ali

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported 1,514 terror attacks in 2023, resulting in 2,922 casualties, including both fatalities and injuries, according to a report by the Interior Ministry. Presented to the National Assembly, the report details that in 2023, these attacks led to the martyrdom of 572 armed forces personnel and injured 1,292. Additionally, 358 civilians were martyred, and 700 were wounded. The report also includes data for January to April 2024. During this period, Pakistan experienced 561 terror attacks, resulting in the deaths of 167 security personnel and 118 civilians. Furthermore, 348 security personnel and 253 civilians were injured in these attacks.…

TANK: Two policemen were martyred and two others wounded in a terrorist attack on a convoy of judges in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday. According to the police, the attackers targeted the judges’ vehicles on Dera Road in the village of Bhagwal. Fortunately, the judges remained unhurt. Following the attack, police retaliated. During the exchange of fire, two policemen were martyred and two others were injured. The martyred security personnel have been identified as Constable Abdullah and Constable Samad. The attackers, who remain unidentified, targeted the judges’ vehicle with gunfire. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and raised…

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkmenistan have committed to accelerating the TAPI pipeline project, which aims to link the energy-rich Central Asian country through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, according to Radio Pakistan on Friday. The pipeline is set to transport 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually along an 1,800 km (1,125 miles) route from Galkynysh, the world’s second-largest gas field, to Fazilka, an Indian city near the Pakistan border. Initiated in Afghanistan in 2018 amidst the Taliban’s conflict with the Western-backed government in Kabul, the Taliban has since pledged cooperation, recognizing the project as crucial for the country’s…

GILGIT: The high-altitude Khunjerab Pass connecting Pakistan and China remained closed for trade for the eighth consecutive day on Friday as traders in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region protested against federal government taxes on imports from China. On June 22, the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly unanimously approved a resolution demanding that the federal government stop collecting taxes on goods imported from China through the Khunjerab Pass. On July 20, the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court declared the collection of income tax, sales tax, and additional sales tax by Pakistani revenue authorities on these goods as illegal. Since July 26, scores of traders have been…

ISLAMABAD: An anti-rape crisis cell (ARCC) was launched at Polyclinic Hospital in Islamabad representing a “unified effort” to combat sexual violence and empower survivors, according to the United Nations (UN). Pakistan has experienced a significant increase in rape cases in recent years, with many incidents going unreported due to social stigma and fear of retaliation. The Pakistan National Commission on the Status of Women reported over 11,000 cases of rape in 2021 alone. In August 2023, Pakistan’s first anti-rape crisis cell was launched at the Karachi Police Surgeon’s Office in Sindh province, followed by another at Nishtar Hospital in Punjab…

PESHAWAR: Pakistani customs authorities have begun enforcing a visa requirement for Afghan cargo truck drivers entering Pakistan, effective August 1, according to bilateral agreements. Consequently, cargo vehicles without visas are being barred from entering Pakistan via the Torkham border crossing. In response, Afghan security authorities have banned the entry of all types of cargo vehicles from Pakistan into Afghanistan. This situation has led to the suspension of bilateral trade activities and has left thousands of cargo trucks stranded on both sides of the border. Until July 31, Afghan cargo truck drivers were provided with temporary entry permits (TAD) to facilitate…

WASHINGTON: The United States is actively working to mitigate emerging threats from Afghanistan, Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, Vedant Patel, said. During a press conference, Patel responded to questions about a United Nations (UN) report highlighting the rise of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. He emphasized that the US is collaborating with international partners on counter-terrorism efforts to ensure that Afghanistan is never used as a launching pad for attacks on the US. Regarding concerns about attacks on Pakistani forces from Afghanistan, Patel noted that the US is working closely with its partners and allies on counter-terrorism initiatives.…

KARACHI: Careem has introduced its ‘Flexi’ car type in Karachi. This new feature allows customers and Captains to set their preferred fare for rides. Following its successful launches in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan, Flexi Ride has received an overwhelmingly positive response from both users and Captains. When booking a Flexi Ride, customers will see a suggested fare that they can adjust up or down. The adjusted fare will be sent to multiple Captains in the vicinity, who can either accept the fare or submit a counter-bid. Once a match is found, the customer is assigned a Captain, and the…

PESHAWAR: Heavy rain in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province has resulted in the deaths of at least 24 people and injuries to 17 others over the past three days, according to an official statement released on Thursday. The monsoon season in Pakistan, which lasts from July to August, usually brings around 255mm of rain each month. In 2022, the monsoon caused extensive damage across the country, destroying over 75,000 homes and partially damaging 130,000 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, as reported by government and international aid agencies. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that the recent heavy rainfall has…

KABUL: The Taliban publicly flogged nine individuals in Khost province of Afghanistan on Thursday for offenses including theft, forgery, adultery, bribery, and alcohol sales. According to a statement from the Supreme Court of Afghanistan, the punishments were as follows: two individuals received 39 lashes each and were sentenced to 18 months in prison; another was lashed 39 times and given a three-year jail term. Furthermore, one person was flogged 35 times and sentenced to one year in jail, while two others each received 39 lashes and one-year prison sentences. One individual faced 39 lashes and a two-year prison term, another…