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Arab News
4 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Militants free two customs officials months after abduction in Pakistan's northwest
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Taliban militants have freed two customs officials months after they were abducted in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, police and local officials said on Sunday. Pakistan Customs Superintendent Nisar Abbasi, Inspector Khushal Khan and Saif-ur-Rehman, president of a local chambers of commerce, were abducted in KP's South Waziristan district in Feb. this year, according to Deputy Commissioner Nasir Khan. While the kidnappers released Rehman the same day, the two customs officials remained in captivity and it took months of efforts by tribal elders and members of the Lower South Waziristan Chambers of Commerce to negotiate their release. 'The officers have returned safely after their captors let them go,' Habib Islam, a police spokesperson in South Waziristan district that borders Afghanistan, told Arab News. 'Their release was made possible through extensive negotiations involving multiple stakeholders.' The development highlights persistent security challenges in Pakistan's northwestern tribal districts where militant groups, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, have mounted their attacks against security forces, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials. It also comes amid a thaw in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations which were strained by a surge in militancy in Pakistan's western regions that border Afghanistan. Islamabad frequently blamed Afghanistan for the surge in militant activities, an allegation denied by Kabul. However, both countries have sought to mend ties in recent months and last week announced to upgrade their diplomatic missions in Islamabad and Kabul to the ambassadorial rank. Rehman, president of the Lower South Waziristan Chambers of Commerce and Industry who was released shortly after his kidnapping along with the two customs officials, said the kidnappers had initially demanded the government free their detained associates in return for the release of the two customs officials. 'When it became clear that the government would not meet their demands even after several months, the abductors eventually relented to tribal mediation and agreed to release the officials,' he told Arab News, adding that both officials were in good health and no ransom was paid against their release. On Jan. 9, the Pakistani Taliban kidnapped more than a dozen workers of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), which is responsible for nuclear energy projects, from the volatile Lakki Marwat district, according to Lakki Marwat police. Eight of the abductees were released shortly after the kidnapping, while the militants released one more and body of another hostage on Jan. 25. The fate of the remaining captives remains unknown. Last year, the militant group had kidnapped District and Sessions Judge Shakirullah Marwat near KP's Dera Ismail Khan district who was later recovered in a joint operation by police and security forces, officials said.
News18
03-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
In Panic Mode, PoK Administration Cancels All Employee Leaves Amid Soaring India-Pakistan Tensions
Last Updated: The development comes amid strong vows of military retaliation against Pakistan by top Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the Pahalgam attack Amid soaring tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, the government of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) has gone into panic mode, placing all departments on high alert and cancelling all previously approved employee leaves. It comes after Chief Secretary Khushal Khan chaired a high-level meeting with heads and representatives of key government departments on Friday to review preparedness measures amid the possibility of Indian aggression across the Line of Control. The Chief Secretary instructed all government departments and institutions to stay on high alert and ensure that all necessary equipment, machinery, and personnel were prepared for immediate deployment. The developments unfolded amid strong vows of military retaliation by top Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. The attack was considered one of the deadliest in recent years. In a separate order issued by PoK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, after an all-party meeting, residents living near the Line of Control (LoC) have been asked to stockpile food and essential items. Further, the movement of tourists into the Neelum Valley and other LoC-adjacent areas has been suspended with immediate effect, according to the order. The Health Department was also directed to maintain sufficient availability of medicines and medical staff, with all ambulances kept in functional condition. Among the series of measures announced were the closure of religious seminaries in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and the creation of a Rs 1 billion Emergency Response Fund to support potential relief efforts in the event of military conflict. The Pahalgam terror attack sparked massive outrage in India, with demands coming from all across the country for strong retaliation against Pakistan. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the terror attack. In diplomatic action against the neighbouring country, India announced a raft of measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. First Published: May 03, 2025, 16:27 IST
