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Posts published in “Day: September 27, 2016

Afghanistan’s untenable stalemate: op-ed by K. Iqbal in The Nation, Sept 26, 2016

The writer is a freelance columnist. In a strong message to international community through his speech to the UN General Assembly’s ministerial session on September 21, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reiterated that “Pakistan has a vital stake in ending conflicts, fostering peace, fighting terrorism, strengthening democracy, promoting human rights, generating global growth…” On Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said that Pakistan has long proposed intra-Afghan dialogue as the most viable course to end decades of conflict…

Helmand Governor Threatens Soldiers With Legal Action If Posts Deserted by Abdul Wali Arian in ToloNews, Sept 25 2016

Following reports about the handover of police check posts by soldiers to Taliban in Helmand, the provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat warned that he will take legal action against security force members that desert their posts. “I have decided at the military council that anyone that leaves their check posts without permission from their commanders will face legal action,” Hayat said. However, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) rejected the involvement of police in handing over check…

Takhar deputy police chief escapes bomb explosion unhurt By KHAAMA PRESS – Sun Sep 25 2016

The deputy provincial police chief of northeastern Takhar province escaped unhurt from a roadside bomb explosion that left at least two people dead. According to the local security officials, the incident took place in Khwajah Ghar district targeting police chief Haji Agha Dawood. The officials further added that two security guards of Haji Dawood were killled in the attack and at least four others were wounded. The anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban insurgents…

5 civilians, 4 militants killed as Taliban rocket explodes in Kunar By KHAAMA PRESS – Sun Sep 25 2016

At least 5 civilians and 4 militants were killed after a Taliban rocket exploded prematurely in eastern Kunar province of Afghanistan, the security officials said Sunday. The 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces said the incident took place on Saturday evening in Dangam district. The incident took place as the militants were transporting an artillery shell that went off on the way, the 201st Silab Corps said, ad ding that 5…

Afghan forces foil coordinated suicide attack in Paktika province KHAAMA PRESS – Sun Sep 25 2016

The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) foiled a coordinated suicide attack plot by the anti-government armed militant groups in southeastern Paktika province. The militants were looking to launch the attack with a Vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). The Ministry of Interior (MoI) said at least 9 militants were killed before they manage to reach to their target to launch the attack. “The group had planned to launch a terrorist attack in Paktika province,”…

Concerns Raised Over Insecurity Along National Highways : by Tamim Hamid in The Tolo News, Sept 25, 2016

Members of the public said on Sunday that they are concerned about what they called a surge in insecurity along the highways in the country and that people using them are often affected by insurgent activity. Many have said that threats increase on a daily basis. Hekmatullah, a resident of Jalalabad said: “Sometimes the Kabul-Jalalabad Highway is faced with security problems and it is closed.” “We were on the way to Nangarhar [province] when we…

Pakistan Using Afghan Refugees As A Political Tool: Minister by Gulabudin Ghubar in The Tolo News, Sept 25, 2016

The Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Sayed Husain Alemi Balkhi on Sunday told the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) that Pakistan is using Afghan refugees as a political tool. In addition, he said, almost 8,000 refugees are returning to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan on a daily basis. He said despite government’s attempts to accommodate these return refugees, efforts have not been enough and that his ministry will continue to address the challenge. “The…

Top TTP commander killed in Afghanistan: By Arshad Yusufzai in Daily Times, Sept 26, 2016

PESHAWAR: The spokesman of the Afghanistan based Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has confirmed the death of ex-spokesman Azam Tariq along with six other militants in a late night raid by the Afghan security forces backed by the coalition forces in Paktika province of Afghanistan. Raeas Khan, also known as Azam Khan Tariq, had a 20 million rupee ($190,740) bounty on his head and was the fourth-highest ranking commander in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). “I confirm the…

India’s Uri evidence fails to convince US: officials By Kamran Yousaf in The Express Tribune, September 26th, 2016

ISLAMABAD: In times of crisis between Pakistan and India, the United States is known to have always played a crucial role – sometimes overtly but often covertly – to prevent the two nuclear-armed archrivals from a military showdown. Over the past 15 years, a hawkish India twice came perilously close to resorting to military strikes against Pakistan— first after the 2001 attack on its parliament and then in 2008 when gunmen rampaged through Mumbai’s landmarks,…

Jingoistic media: by HUMA YUSUF in Dawn, September 26th, 2016

The writer is a freelance journalist. THE number of sensational, yet inaccurate, reports in the Indian and Pakistani media about developments since the Uri attack is staggering: India staged the attack; India carried out a cross-border attack against militant sanctuaries; the Russians cancelled planned military exercises — the list goes on, and is particularly ironic given how media- dark the region being reported on is. Unable (thankfully) to engage in open conflict for fear of…

Democratising foreign policy: by UMAIR JAVED in Dawn, September 26th, 2016

The writer is a freelance columnist. THE Uri attack’s aftermath showcased Indian media and public discourse outlets winning the subcontinent’s battle for inanity and disinformation. From rushing to conclusions, to hard-nosed jingoism, to actually making up stories about counter-raids and retaliatory operations, they’ve passed anything their Pakistani counterparts could offer with consummate ease. Beyond the battle cries and nuclear wars planned, launched, and won on Twitter, there is something instructive in the way political parties…