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Russia Today
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Moscow backs new defense deal with African state
The Russian government has approved a draft law to ratify a military cooperation agreement with Togo, TASS reported on Tuesday, citing meeting documents. The decision by the government commission on legislative activity comes as Moscow deepens defense ties in West Africa, where French influence has waned in recent years. The deal includes provisions for joint military training and exercises, Vladimir Gruzdev, a member of the commission and chairman of the Board of the Association of Lawyers of Russia, told the agency. According to Gruzdev, the pact also provides for emergency medical assistance between the Russian and Togolese militaries. He described Togo as a strategically positioned partner, calling it the most 'organized and equipped' country in Tropical Africa. 'For example, the busiest seaport in the West African region is located on its territory,' he stated. Moscow has stepped up its military engagement in Africa in recent years, with President Vladimir Putin saying last November that several countries across the continent are increasingly seeking its security support. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—Togo's West African neighbors—have severed defense ties with former colonial power France and expelled French troops over alleged aggression and their failure to contain surging jihadist insurgency in the Sahel region. The three countries have formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and turned to Russia – praised by their leaders as a reliable partner – for security cooperation to counter militant violence that has claimed an estimated 10,400 lives in the region in 2024. Togo is increasingly facing cross-border violence, with 10 attacks and 52 deaths recorded in 2024 – the highest since records began, according to the Global Terrorism Index. Last July, around 100 fighters from the al Qaeda-linked Group for Support of Islam and Muslims launched a large-scale attack on a military post near the Burkina Faso border, reportedly killing a dozen Togolese soldiers. In April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's support for the AES bloc, affirming that Russia is ready to help strengthen the joint Sahel forces, boost the combat readiness of each country's military, and assist in training armed forces and law enforcement personnel.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘I am sure there will be no hurdle': Bilawal Bhutto claims Pakistan open to handing over Hafiz, Azhar to India; says New Delhi must cooperate
File photo: Pakistan's former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto (Picture credit: ANI) Pakistan's former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Islamabad would be open to extraditing individuals of concern, including terror accused, as a goodwill gesture to India, provided New Delhi is willing to cooperate in the process. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Bilawal, who also heads the Pakistan People's Party, said that such a move could be part of a 'comprehensive dialogue' between the two countries, where terrorism is discussed as a key issue. "As part of a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan, where terrorism is one of the issues that we discuss, I am sure Pakistan would not be opposed to any of these things," he said, when asked whether figures like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) founder Masood Azhar could be handed over as a sign of good faith. Bilawal clarified that cases currently prosecuted against these individuals were related to domestic offences, such as terror financing. He, however, blamed India's "noncompliance" for the lack of progress on cross-border terrorism charges. "India is refusing to comply with certain basic elements that require that conviction to take place," Bilawal said, pointing to the need for Indian witnesses to testify in Pakistani courts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More "If India is willing to be cooperative in that process, I am sure there will be no hurdle in extraditing any individual of concern", he added. According to Pakistan's National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta), both LeT and JeM are proscribed outfits. Hafiz Saeed, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind, is currently serving a 33-year sentence in Pakistan for terror financing. Masood Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist, has also been banned by Nacta. Addressing concerns about Azhar's whereabouts, Bilawal claimed, "It is our belief that he is in Afghanistan," adding that Pakistan had so far failed to locate or arrest him. 'If and when the Indian government shares information that he is on Pakistani soil, we will be more than happy to arrest him,' he further said. Dismissing allegations that Hafiz Saeed was free, he said, 'It is factually not correct that Hafiz Saeed is a free man; he is in the custody of the Pakistani state.' Responding to India's assertive posture on terror, Bilawal called it a 'new abnormal,' warning it could harm both nations. 'This does not serve the interests of Pakistan, and it does not serve the interests of India,' he said. A 2025 Global Terrorism Index ranked Pakistan as the second-most terrorism-affected country, with a 45% rise in terror-related deaths, especially near the Afghanistan border. Bhutto has previously insisted that Pakistan met the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) standards, citing convictions and seizures of over 90 extremist-linked institutions.
Economic Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
MEA rejects Pakistan Army's claim over attack in Waziristan
The Ministry of External Affairs has refuted Pakistan's accusations regarding the Waziristan attack. Pakistan Army blamed India for the suicide bombing. The incident resulted in the death of thirteen security personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Fitna-al-Khawarij claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan is facing increased terrorism, ranking second in the Global Terrorism Index. The country witnessed a rise in terrorism-related deaths. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday strongly rejected the Pakistan Army 's claims, where the latter blamed India for the attack that took place in a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "Statement regarding Pakistan- We have seen an official statement by the Pakistan Army seeking to blame India for the attack in Waziristan on 28 June. We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves."Thirteen security personnel were killed in a suicide bombing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan district on Saturday, carried out by Fitna-al-Khawarij, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), The Dawn a statement from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister's Office confirmed that eight security personnel were killed in the blast. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur condemned the attack and expressed his condolences and prayers for the Police Officer (DPO) Waqar Ahmed told The Dawn that four civilians were injured in the "suicide attack" carried out through a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The Dawn reported that the attack comes just days after two soldiers were killed and 11 terrorists were eliminated during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in South Waziristan. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the latest Dawn reported that the attack comes just days after two soldiers were killed and 11 terrorists were eliminated during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in South incidents reflect a broader trend, as Pakistan ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025 , with a 45 per cent rise in terrorism-related deaths over the past year, reaching 1,081 fatalities. The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies recorded 85 attacks in May, compared to 81 in April.
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Business Standard
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
13 security personnel killed in suicide attack in Pak's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
At least 13 security personnel were killed and 24 others injured in a suicide attack on Saturday in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, security sources said. A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle belonging to the Bomb Disposal Unit early this morning in Khaddi village in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, the sources added. Among the 24 injured are 14 civilians, including women and children, with several said to be in critical condition. A curfew was imposed in the area at the time of the incident due to ongoing military movement, sources said. Security agencies launched a rescue operation following the explosion. The militant group Usud al-Harb, a sub-faction of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, they added. Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has strongly condemned the suicide attack. We salute the brave security personnel and their families who have sacrificed their lives for the nation, said the chief minister. This incident is being described as one of the deadliest in North Waziristan in recent months and has raised serious concerns about the security situation in the region. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, following the collapse of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in November 2022. Militant attacks and counter-terrorism operations surged in March 2025, with the number of terrorist incidents crossing 100 for the first time since November 2014, a Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies report said. Pakistan ranked second on the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with terror-related deaths rising by 45 per cent over the past year to 1,081. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
News18
01-06-2025
- News18
Two killed in two separate blasts in Pakistan
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Peshawar, Jun 1 (PTI) At least two people were killed in two separate explosions in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, officials said. A blast took place at a tube well near a house in Kohat district's Darra Adam Khel town, about 35 kilometres southwest of Peshawar, killing two people, a rescue official said. The house was completely destroyed in the explosion, the official said. In another incident, unidentified attackers planted an improvised explosive device (IED) in an under-construction building in Bannu district, another rescue official said. The explosion which heavily damaged the building belonging to the Rescue 1122 emergency services occurred after midnight, the official said. However, no casualties were reported in the incident, the official said. Bannu region police spokesperson Khanzala Quraishi said a police team responded promptly and launched a probe. This is the second attack on a Rescue 1122 building in the last three months. In April, a rescue department building was damaged in an explosion in Tank district. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, following the collapse of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in November 2022. Militant attacks and counter-terrorism operations surged in March 2025, with the number of terrorist incidents crossing 100 for the first time since November 2014, a Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies report said. Pakistan ranked second on the Global Terrorism Index 2025, with terror-related deaths rising by 45 per cent over the past year to 1,081. PTI AYZ RD RD RD First Published: June 01, 2025, 18:45 IST
