The writer is a civil servant. WHENEVER Pak-Afghan ties are strained, the issue of the Durand Line surfaces. Host to over three million Afghan refugees, Pakistan sees thousands of Afghans enter daily — mainly through the Torkham and Chaman checkpoints, but also unregulated entry points. Contrary to perceptions, the Durand Line Agreement (DLA), 1893 is not an isolated historical aberration thrust upon Afghanistan by the British Raj. A series of events, including the Anglo-Afghan wars,…
Posts published in “Day: August 1, 2016”
At least 20 Taliban insurgents were killed in heavy clashes in northern Jawzjan province in the past three days, local officials said on Sunday. In addition, 30 other insurgents, including their two local commanders, were injured. The clash took place in Qushtepa district of the province after dozens of insurgents attacked the district and clashed with security forces, a spokesman for the provincial governor, Mohammad Reza Ghafoori, said. “Two security force members were also killed…
CHITRAL: Intensifying their cross-border attacks, the Afghanistan-based militants took away about 2,500 goats and sheep from the Kalash valley Birir, locals and officials said. The incident reportedly happened hours after the militants’ attack on Friday in Bamburet valley inhabited by the Kalash minority community. The Nuristan-based militants had killed two Kalash shepherds in Bamburet valley on Friday and seized over 300 sheep and goats in Karakal border village of Bamburet. This had created fear in…
ISLAMABAD: An Afghan Taliban delegation visited China earlier this month to “explore prospects” for Beijing’s role on restarting the political dialogue, sources in the Taliban said. Afghan government sources too said the visit was “directly linked” to the peace talks. A four-member delegation led by Sher Abbas Stanakzai, head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, visited Beijing on July 18-22 at the invitation of the Chinese government, a spokesman for a dissident group told…
The government of China is considering the specific requests of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan has said. During a meeting with the National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar, the Chinese envoy, Yao Jing reaffirmed his country’s commitment to support Afghanistan. In his return, Atmar thanked Chian for supporting Afghanistan and updated the Chinese envoy regaridng his to Russia, insisting on regional allies consensus in fight against terrorism.…
LAHORE: Jamaat Islami secretary general Liaqat Baloch has demanded the government stop Indian home minister Rajnath from participating in the Saarc conference in Islamabad next week as a mark of protest against the continued killings of Kashmiri Muslims by the Indian army and to express solidarity with the innocent Kashmiris. “It must be clear to the governments of both Pakistan and India that unless Kashmir issue was on top of the agenda, no talks between…
The writer is Islamabad/Rawalakot based analyst. Beyond all expectations, Pakistan Muslim League-N has stood victorious in the recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Several heavyweights including the ex-premier Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhary, were not only defeated, his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf got reduced to a political non-entity in the region. Pakistan People’s Party, ruling the AJK since 2011, ran a formidable election campaign but was also wiped out from the political scene where it could…
HONG KONG — A political candidate in Hong Kong has been barred from running for office, after government officials said Saturday that his support for the territory’s independence from China made it impossible for him to uphold the legal duties of a lawmaker. The government previously said candidates for the legislative election in September must declare that they recognize Hong Kong as an “inalienable part” of China or face disqualification. The candidate who was disqualified,…
The writer is a security analyst. THE potential gravity of the militant Islamic State (IS) group’s threat has only just begun to dawn. The recent spate of terrorist attacks across the world — unleashed by IS-inspired or affiliated individuals and groups — indicate that most assessments downplayed the threat it poses as a global terrorist outfit. IS is operating both on the ground and in cyberspaces. In cyberspaces, it is infecting the minds of Muslim…
LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) led by Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri will announce to launch protest againstModel Town massacre and corruption of the incumbent government on July 31 “July 31 will be a beginning point of a movement. It will reach its terminal point with thorough obliteration of the incumbent rulers,” PAT Chairman Dr. Qadri said while talking to media here on Friday. Replying to a query regarding the progress in Model Town carnage case, the PAT…
The Khanshin district in southern Helmand province has reportedly fallen to Taliban control after hours of heavy gun battle between the Taliban insurgents and the Afghan security forces. The security officials confirmed that heavy gun battle erupted among the Afghan forces and the Taliban insurgents late on Friday night. Provincial governor’s spokesman Omar Zawak confirmed heavy clashes are still underway in parts of the district however he did not comment regarding the fall of the…