Five terrorists killed in K-P IBOs
Five Khawarij terrorists affiliated with Indian proxy outfit Fitna al Khawarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during intelligence-based operations (IBOs), the military's media wing said on Monday.
According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the first operation was carried out by security forces in Peshawar District following reports of the presence of Indian-sponsored Khawarij.
"During the conduct of operation, own troops skilfully surrounded and effectively engaged the Indian sponsored khwarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, four Indian sponsored khwarij, including Kharji Haris and Kharji Baseer, were sent to hell," the press release said.
In a separate IBO in North Waziristan District, one more Kharji was neutralised in an ensuing fire exchange.
Security forces also recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives from the Indian-sponsored Khawarij killed in the operations. The terrorists were reportedly actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.
The ISPR added that sanitisation operations are underway to ensure no remaining Indian-sponsored Khawarij are present in the vicinity. The military reiterated its resolve to eliminate the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for their success in neutralising five terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij in the two operations in K-P.
They reaffirmed the government's commitment to completely eradicate the terrorist network.
"Operations against Fitna al Khawarij will continue till complete elimination of terrorism from the country," President Zardari said.
PM Shehbaz said that the anti-human terrorists will have to pay a heavy price for endangering the lives and property of innocent people.
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Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Five terrorists killed in K-P IBOs
Five Khawarij terrorists affiliated with Indian proxy outfit Fitna al Khawarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa during intelligence-based operations (IBOs), the military's media wing said on Monday. According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the first operation was carried out by security forces in Peshawar District following reports of the presence of Indian-sponsored Khawarij. "During the conduct of operation, own troops skilfully surrounded and effectively engaged the Indian sponsored khwarij location, and after an intense fire exchange, four Indian sponsored khwarij, including Kharji Haris and Kharji Baseer, were sent to hell," the press release said. In a separate IBO in North Waziristan District, one more Kharji was neutralised in an ensuing fire exchange. Security forces also recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives from the Indian-sponsored Khawarij killed in the operations. The terrorists were reportedly actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area. The ISPR added that sanitisation operations are underway to ensure no remaining Indian-sponsored Khawarij are present in the vicinity. The military reiterated its resolve to eliminate the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for their success in neutralising five terrorists of Fitna al Khawarij in the two operations in K-P. They reaffirmed the government's commitment to completely eradicate the terrorist network. "Operations against Fitna al Khawarij will continue till complete elimination of terrorism from the country," President Zardari said. PM Shehbaz said that the anti-human terrorists will have to pay a heavy price for endangering the lives and property of innocent people.
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Dare not look at Pakistan, Dar warns Israel
Pakistan on Monday strongly rejected claims that it threatened to nuke Israel if it dropped an atom bomb on Iran, even as the foreign minister warned Tel Aviv "dare not look at Pakistan" with an evil eye. Ishaq Dar, who is the leader of the house in the Senate as well as deputy prime minister, stressed that Pakistan's nuclear and missile programs were meant for the defence of the country. Dar said that the news attributed to an Iranian general regarding a nuclear strike on Israel was false and based on "fake news". The foreign minister's remarks came at a time when reports were circulating on social media and mainstream media, claiming that in the event of a nuclear attack on Iran, Pakistan would retaliate by launching a nuclear strike on Israel. While speaking in the Senate on Monday, Pakistan's foreign minister said, "This is fake news". "Pakistan's nuclear program is a trust of our nation. This programme has been achieved by the Pakistani nation through immense sacrifices." He said that misleading misinformation was being spread and urged caution. "A clip about US President Trump was circulating yesterday, but it was later discovered to be AI-generated," he said. He mentioned that after June 13, several fake news stories emerged. "Netanyahu's interview being circulated is from 2011. In such a sensitive situation, everyone should act responsibly. This is not child's play - a serious kind of war is underway. Iran's foreign minister remained in constant contact with me during the negotiations," he said. He stressed the need for caution: "A lot of wrong and misleading news is spreading. War is no joke. We must clarify things regarding fake news. The reports suggesting that Pakistan would launch a nuclear strike on Israel in case of an attack on Iran are baseless. Our nuclear and missile programs are solely for our own defence." He, however, made it clear that Pakistan was on high alert in view of the regional tensions and warned Israel not to cast an evil eye on Pakistan. "Our message is very clear for Israel: Dare not look at Pakistan," Dar said, adding Pakistan had the strength and resolve to give a befitting response to any malafide action. He recalled that the entire world saw the unity shown by the people of Pakistan in the wake of Indian aggression. "God willing, we will remain united. When it comes to safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan, we are all one," he remarked. "By the grace of Almighty, we have enough strength that whoever dares to look at us with hostility, we will respond with greater force," he added. Dar said that the foreign ministers of Oman and Iran kept him updated on developments. "We played our role regarding the UN Security Council meeting, and Iran expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its support," he said. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also stated that due to the Iran-Israel tensions, Iranian pilgrims had become stranded in Saudi Arabia. "Iran requested our assistance," he said. "We will welcome the Iranian pilgrims at Karachi Airport, issue them on-arrival visas, and allow them to stay in Karachi. Afterwards, the Iranian government will take them back via shuttle service through road routes," he added. Referring to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, the Pakistani foreign minister said that a serious nature of war has already started between the two countries. "We are making every effort for dialogue, particularly for successful negotiations between the United States and Iran." According to Ishaq Dar, Iran's foreign minister had taken him into confidence regarding the talks with the US. He added that Pakistan has supported Iran diplomatically, and Iran has also appreciated Pakistan's role. "We have been in contact with Iran's foreign minister, and he has said that they will give a strong response to Israel."
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Govt plans tax to counter India's water threat
Pakistan has sought the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) permission to impose a special 1% tax on every taxable product produced in the country, except electrical energy and medicines, to fund two mega water storage dams as a solution to deal with Indian water aggression. The decision to impose a new cess has been taken after majority of the provincial governments showed reluctance to finance the early completion of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and the Mohmand Dam, according to the sources in the Ministry of Water Resource and the Ministry of Finance. However, the government was also meeting opposition from the IMF, which has urged the federal government to try to find a space within the approved Rs1 trillion federal Public Sector Development programme, the sources revealed. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam worth Rs480 billion and Mohmand Dam – originally estimated to cost Rs310 billion – had been approved in 2018 but still a minimum Rs540 billion was needed for their completion. India has threatened to cut water supplies after it held the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance in violation of the treaty provisions and in the breach of the international law. Islamabad has plainly told India that any such act would be considered as an act of war. The sources said that as an alternate strategy, Pakistan has decided to fast track the construction of the two dams. However, due to its political priorities and pressing demands by the coalition partners, the government has reduced the water sector development budget by 28% to Rs133 billion for the next fiscal year. Now it wants to offset this by introducing a new tax. The sources said that the government has decided to levy a 1% cess on the gross value of all local taxable supplies to raise the additional funds, subject to the approval by the IMF and by parliament. They said that all the goods produced in Pakistan and subjected to tax are proposed to be charged at a new cess rate of 1%. The goods that are currently exempted from the sales tax under the Sixth Schedule, or are charged at a zero rate under the Fifth Schedule of the sales tax law would be immune to the cess. Likewise, the electrical energy goods and pharmaceutical goods are proposed to be exempted from the new cess. Cess is different from a normal tax and it can only be levied for a specific purpose, like the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) that had been imposed to fund Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline. Effectively, every good produced in Pakistan and consumed by all households would be subject to 1% new special tax, said the sources. The Ministry of Finance spokesman Qumar Abbasi and the Secretary Water Resources Ministry Syed Ali Murtaza did not respond to the request for comments. They have been asked to confirm the development and also the IMF's position. A senior Finance Ministry official said that the proposal was under consideration but the discussions with the IMF were still going on. He said that the cess would not be imposed through the Finance Act 2025, and instead a new separate bill will be introduced in parliament, subject to the IMF clearance. In the case of GIDC, the Supreme Court has decided that the cess can only be levied for a specific purpose and it requires separate legislation. This binds the government's hands from introducing the cess through the Finance Act, which is currently under discussion in parliament. The GIDC case is also an example of how the government is indifferent. The textile and fertiliser companies have not yet deposited over Rs400 billion in the kitty despite collecting those from the consumers. The finance and petroleum ministries are not able to make an effective strategy. One of the options is that instead of levy a new 1% cess, the government should amend the GIDC law and divert the already collected money towards building dams. On the intervention of the Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz, the government has again constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to recover the GIDC. But this committee too is moving at a snail's pace. The sources said that the IMF's view was that the government should fund the dam projects from the PSDP instead of imposing more burden on the people. However, the Ministry of Water Resources has informed the government that it would take 15 years to complete the Mohmand Dam and over 20 years to finish work on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam at the current pace of the budget allocations. The PSDP is already overstretched and there is no space to fund these projects beyond the allocations made in the new budget, said Ahsan Iqbal, the federal minister for Planning and Development. He said that out of the Rs1 trillion allocations, effectively, Rs640 billion was available for funding the PSDP. Iqbal said that the remaining Rs360 billion had been allocated for spending on N-25 Karachi-Quetta road, provincial schemes and special areas' allocations. The sources said that after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also chaired a special meeting with the provinces to convince them to fund these two dams to deal with Indian aggression. In a follow-up meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the provinces except Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa showed reluctance to fund federal projects, said the sources. The cost of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam had been estimated at Rs480 billion seven years ago and it still needs Rs365 billion more to complete the work against a price that is likely to increase further. For the next fiscal year, only Rs25 billion has been allocated for project, which is even less than this fiscal year. Likewise, the Mohmand Dam was approved at a cost of Rs310 billion seven years ago and it still requires a minimum of Rs173 billion more at the old price. Only Rs35.7 billion has been allocated in the new fiscal year. Earlier this week, Ahsan Iqbal said that the government has advanced the completion of both the projects by two years and these dams will be completed by 2030. He said that on completion, Pakistan will have 7 million acre feet of additional water storage capacity. Pakistan's two reservoirs Tarbela and Mangla dams are facing storage related issues due to sedimentation and other technical issues. The Sindh government has given a deficit budget for the next fiscal year and also showed zero-balance for the outgoing fiscal year. This has surprised many, as the provincial government had a cash surplus of Rs395 billion till March this year, according to the Ministry of Finance's fiscal operations summary. For the next fiscal year, Sindh has shown a Rs38.5 billion deficit budget, which defeats the IMF's core objective of getting Rs1.4 trillion cash surpluses from all the four provinces.
