Latest news with #MohsinAli
Arab News
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Eight soldiers, civilian killed in separate attacks in Pakistan — police
PESHAWAR: At least eight soldiers and a civilian were killed in western Pakistan on Friday in separate attacks along the border with Afghanistan, where violence has erupted in recent months, police told AFP. Seven soldiers were killed in a security operation against 'armed Taliban' in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a police source said on Saturday. 'Fighters hiding in a house fired on security forces,' the source said. The army deployed combat helicopters during the hours-long fight, killing eight Taliban fighters, while six other soldiers were wounded, the source said. A blast from a bomb planted by separatists on a motorbike also killed a soldier and a civilian further south in Balochistan, police officer Mohsin Ali told AFP. The area was the scene of a spectacular attack last month when militants held hundreds of train passengers hostage and killed dozens of off-duty soldiers. Three soldiers and a civilian were also wounded in the blast that took place as a military vehicle drove through Gwadar district, a sensitive area that hosts substantial Chinese infrastructure. More than 190 people, mostly soldiers, have been killed in attacks since the start of the year by armed groups fighting the government in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to an AFP tally. The Pakistani Taliban — known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — announced in mid-March a 'spring campaign' against security forces. Last year was the deadliest year in almost a decade in Pakistan, with more than 1,600 people killed in attacks — nearly half of them security forces personnel — according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies. The violence is largely limited to Pakistan's border regions with Afghanistan.
Gulf Today
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
11 dead in drone strikes against Taliban hideouts in Pakistan's KP province
Eleven people were killed in drone strikes in northern Pakistan on Saturday launched by the army against the Taliban, who had killed seven soldiers a day earlier, police told AFP. Three drone strikes were carried out on Friday night in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity, targeting 'Pakistani Taliban hideouts' in the region bordering Afghanistan where violence has erupted in recent months. 'It was only this morning that we learned that two women and three children were among the victims,' he said. 'In protest, local residents placed the bodies of the victims on the road,' saying that they were 'innocent civilians' killed in the strikes, he added. Another police source said that 'an investigation is under way to establish whether Taliban fighters were indeed present at the sites at the time of the attack.' 'It is too early to say whether the places affected were civilian areas or whether they were sheltering Taliban,' he added. At least eight soldiers and a civilian were killed in western Pakistan in separate attacks along the border with Afghanistan, where violence has erupted in recent months, police told AFP. Seven soldiers were killed in a security operation against 'armed Taliban' in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a police source said on Saturday. 'Fighters hiding in a house fired on security forces,' the source said. The army deployed combat helicopters during the hours-long fight, killing eight Taliban fighters, while six other soldiers were wounded, the source said. A blast from a bomb planted by separatists on a motorbike also killed a soldier and a civilian further south in Balochistan, police officer Mohsin Ali told AFP. At least six people were injured in a suicide blast near a rally of Balochistan National Party (BNP) on Saturday in the Mastung district of Balochistan, according to police officials. However, the party has alleged that it was a 'failed attempt' to suppress their protest against the Pakistani government. Meanwhile, over 250 activists of the BNP were also arrested during the same rally that was leading the peaceful long march to Quetta against the illegal detention of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders and activists. The protestors were held near Mastung in the Balochistan province, local media reported on Saturday. Later during the day, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has announced a ceasefire during Eid-ul-Fitr, stating that it would halt all of its activities during Eid. The announcement comes amid heavy losses incurred by the banned outfit during an Intelligence-Based Operation (IBO) in Mardan district of KP province. TTP announced similar ceasefires during religious festivities in the past as well. Muhammad Khorasani, the spokesperson of the TTP, aka Pakistani Taliban, issued a single-liner statement, announcing a ceasefire during Eid Al Fitr. 'Announcement of ceasefire during Eid Al Fitr,' read a statement issued by the TTP spokesperson. The Pakistani Taliban announced in mid-March a 'spring campaign' against security forces, threatening 'ambushes, targeted attacks, suicide attacks and strikes.' The TTP has since claimed responsibility for around 100 attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In the same province, 'armed Taliban' fighters hiding in a house shot and killed seven soldiers who were carrying out an operation against them, a police source said on Saturday. During the shoot-out, which lasted several hours, the army deployed helicopter gunships, killing eight Taliban, while six other soldiers were wounded, according to the source. Since January 1, more than 190 people, mostly members of the security forces, have been killed in violence carried out by armed groups fighting against the government both in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Balochistan provinces, according to an AFP count. 'Pakistan expects the Afghan government to assume its responsibilities', the army said at the beginning of March, reserving 'the right to take the necessary measures to respond to these threats coming from across the border.' Agencies
Arab News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Police say 8 soldiers, civilian killed in Pakistan attacks
Peshawar: At least eight soldiers and a civilian were killed in western Pakistan on Friday in separate attacks along the border with Afghanistan, where violence has erupted in recent months, police told AFP. Seven soldiers were killed in a security operation against 'armed Taliban' in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a police source said on Saturday. 'Fighters hiding in a house fired on security forces,' the source said. The army deployed combat helicopters during the hours-long fight, killing eight Taliban fighters, while six other soldiers were wounded, the source said. A blast from a bomb planted by separatists on a motorbike also killed a soldier and a civilian further south in Balochistan, police officer Mohsin Ali told AFP. The area was the scene of a spectacular attack last month when militants held hundreds of train passengers hostage and killed dozens of off-duty soldiers. Three soldiers and a civilian were also wounded in the blast that took place as a military vehicle drove through Gwadar district, a sensitive area that hosts substantial Chinese infrastructure. More than 190 people, mostly soldiers, have been killed in attacks since the start of the year by armed groups fighting the government in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to an AFP tally. The Pakistani Taliban — known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — announced in mid-March a 'spring campaign' against security forces. Last year was the deadliest year in almost a decade in Pakistan, with more than 1,600 people killed in attacks — nearly half of them security forces personnel — according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies. The violence is largely limited to Pakistan's border regions with Afghanistan.
Voice of America
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Voice of America
Pakistan set to host first major cricket event in three decades
Pakistan is ready to host the International Cricket Council Champions Trophy 2025 on Wednesday, with eight teams coming together for a major cricketing event in the country for the first time in three decades. Pakistan last hosted a men's Cricket World Cup in 1996 under the International Cricket Council. The Champions Trophy will see players from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand Pakistan, and South Africa compete over almost three weeks, with the final scheduled for March 9. All the teams except India will play in three stadiums across Pakistan. All matches involving India will be staged in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after the Indian cricket board refused to send the team to the archrival country, citing security concerns. Afghanistan's cricket team faced boycott calls from politicians in England and South Africa, who did not want their cricket boards to play the team because of the Afghan Taliban's severe restrictions on women's mobility, education and ability to work. The cricket series begins in Pakistan's biggest metropolis, Karachi, with the host team playing New Zealand. Long wait for this opportunity International cricket dried up in Pakistan after a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan national team in Lahore injured six players. Six Pakistani police officers and two passersby were killed. The incident deprived Pakistan of the chance to host the 2009 Champions Trophy and the 2011 Men's Cricket World Cup. International cricket returned with Zimbabwe's visit in 2015. Since 2019, several major foreign teams have played in Pakistan. For the nation of cricket lovers, attending a large event at home after more than a decade is nothing short of a dream come true. 'It's the biggest event for us since 2009, so we are very excited,' said Mohsin Ali. Ali told VOA he paid just over $10 for a ticket to see Pakistan face Bangladesh on Feb. 27 in Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad. 'Pakistani team would play overseas, and we would watch it on TV, which wasn't much fun,' said Ubaid Hassan, who was a child when international teams shunned Pakistan. Hassan, a captain of the cricket team in his village, has tickets to two matches. Tight security for the event Pakistan is deploying almost 20,000 police officials and personnel across Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi for security on game days, with snipers deployed on buildings surrounding the stadiums. The security situation remains poor in Pakistan with near daily deadly militant attacks in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan provinces. However, the country's eastern province of Punjab and the southern province of Sindh, where the matches will be played, remain largely calm. Still, in Karachi, the capital of Sindh, paramilitary troops and the military will be on standby to respond to security emergencies during the event. Players are receiving state guest-level security. That means a heavy police contingent at hotels where teams are staying, with their travel routes cleared of all traffic. Only personnel with security clearances are allowed to interact with them. Muhammad Waqas, deputy inspector general of operations for the Punjab police, told VOA that since the 2009 attack, 'sports security and security of international events has become very important for us.' 'Even the slightest administrative lapse will cause embarrassment at a very large level, and if we do a good job and manage things efficiently, the same positive impression will go to a billion odd people,' Waqas said. 'That is why it's extremely important and is being planned and monitored at the highest level.' Fans coming to the stadium will go through several layers of security, including metal detectors and pat downs. Each ticket bears the name and national identity card number of the buyer. Could be good for nation's image While it's not clear how many visas have been issued to foreign fans, cricket experts in Pakistan say the event will help improve the country's image, which has suffered partly because of a lack of international exposure. 'When you don't have tourists, then people will not know how your country is and people will keep thinking poorly of Muslims and Pakistanis,' said Tauqir Zia, former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Although India's absence from Pakistan's grounds is a disappointment for many Pakistani cricket lovers who wanted to see the sport's biggest rivalry play out at home, some say the arrival of other cricketing powers is a vote of confidence. 'Six countries coming to play here is a very big victory for Pakistan. If India doesn't come, it's not stopping cricket. The game is still happening,' said cricket journalist Umar Farooq. The final will be played in Pakistan, unless India qualifies to play the last match, in which case the event will take place in Dubai. Pakistan has spent millions of dollars in recent months to upgrade the stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi. Former Pakistani cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed said he hopes the arrival of heavyweights will usher in a new era for international cricket in the country. 'It's the first step,' said Ahmed, who is a spin bowling coach for Bangladesh. 'I am very hopeful that this will open more doors.' VOA Urdu's Naveed Naseem contributed to this report.
