Latest news with #ShahidRind
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Pakistan suspends mobile data service in restive province
FILE PHOTO: Pakistan army soldiers stand at a tunnel where the Jaffar Express train was attacked by separatist militants, in Bolan, Balochistan, Pakistan, March 15, 2025. - Reuters QUETTA, Pakistan: Pakistan has suspended cell phone data services for three weeks in the restive south-western province of Balochistan in a bid to block communications among separatist insurgents behind a surge in recent attacks, an official and the government said. Separatist militants demanding a bigger share of profits from the resources of the mineral-rich province have stepped up attacks in recent months, particularly on Pakistan's military, which has launched an intelligence-based offensive against them. In an order on Wednesday (Aug 6) seen by Reuters, the government said the services would be suspended until the end of the month because of the law and order situation in the province, home to key Chinese Belt and Road projects. "The service has been suspended because they (militants) use it for coordination and sharing information," Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the provincial government, said on Friday. Officials said there are 8.5 million cell phone subscribers in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by size, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. But it is thinly populated, with just 15 million from a national population of 240 million. The news follows Pakistan's ban on road travel to Iran late last month, citing security threats. The insurgency by the separatists, who accuse Pakistan's government of depriving them of their share in regional resources, has roiled the province for decades. They primarily attack Pakistani military or Chinese nationals and their interests, but have recently started targeting senior army officers. The military said an officer and two soldiers were killed in a roadside blast set off by the militants on Tuesday. The attack targeting a vehicle was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the strongest of the area's insurgent groups, which has also claimed responsibility for several attacks on senior officers in recent weeks. The region is home to the Gwadar Port, built by Beijing as part of a US$65-billion investment in Pakistan in the Belt and Road programme designed to expand China's global reach. Islamabad accuses arch-rival India of funding and backing the insurgents in a bid to stoke instability, as Pakistan seeks international investments in the region, a charge New Delhi denies. In March, the BLA blew up a railway track and took hostage more than 400 train passengers in an attack that killed 31, including 23 soldiers. - Reuters
Dubai Eye
3 days ago
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Pakistan suspends mobile data service in restive province
Pakistan has suspended cell phone data services for three weeks in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan in a bid to block communications among separatist insurgents behind a surge in recent attacks, an official and the government said. Separatist fighters demanding a bigger share of profits from the resources of the mineral-rich province have stepped up attacks in recent months, particularly on Pakistan's military, which has launched an intelligence-based offensive against them. In an order on Wednesday seen by Reuters, the government said the services would be suspended until the end of the month because of the law and order situation in the province, home to key Chinese Belt and Road projects. "The service has been suspended because they (rebels) use it for coordination and sharing information," Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the provincial government, said on Friday. Officials said there are 8.5 million cell phone subscribers in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by size, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. But it is thinly populated, with just 15 million from a national population of 240 million. The news follows Pakistan's ban on road travel to Iran late last month, citing security threats. The insurgency by the separatists, who accuse Pakistan's government of depriving them of their share in regional resources, has roiled the province for decades. They primarily attack Pakistani military or Chinese nationals and their interests, but have recently started targeting senior army officers. The military said an officer and two soldiers were killed in a roadside blast set off by the militants on Tuesday. The attack targeting a vehicle was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the strongest of the area's insurgent groups, which has also claimed responsibility for several attacks on senior officers in recent weeks. The region is home to the Gwadar Port, built by Beijing as part of a $65-billion investment in Pakistan in the Belt and Road programme designed to expand China's global reach. Islamabad accuses arch-rival India of funding and backing the insurgents in a bid to stoke instability, as Pakistan seeks international investments in the region, a charge New Delhi denies. In March, the BLA blew up a railway track and took hostage more than 400 train passengers in an attack that killed 31, including 23 soldiers.
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Pakistan suspends mobile data service in Balochistan province
Pakistan has suspended cell phone data services for three weeks in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan in a bid to block communications among separatist insurgents behind a surge in recent attacks, an official and the government said. Separatist militants demanding a bigger share of profits from the resources of the mineral-rich province have stepped up attacks in recent months, particularly on Pakistan's military, which has launched an intelligence-based offensive against them. In an order on Thursday seen by Reuters, the government said the services would be suspended until the end of the month because of the law and order situation in the province, home to key Chinese Belt and Road projects. "The service has been suspended because they (militants) use it for coordination and sharing information," Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the provincial government, said on Friday. Officials said there are 8.5 million cell phone subscribers in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by size, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. But it is thinly populated, with just 15 million from a national population of 240 million. The news follows Pakistan's ban on road travel to Iran late last month, citing security threats. The insurgency by the separatists, who accuse Pakistan's government of depriving them of their share in regional resources, has roiled the province for decades. They primarily attack Pakistani military or Chinese nationals and their interests, but have recently started targeting senior army officers. The military said an officer and two soldiers were killed in a roadside blast set off by the militants on Tuesday. The attack targeting a vehicle was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the strongest of the area's insurgent groups, which has also claimed responsibility for several attacks on senior officers in recent weeks. The region is home to the Gwadar Port, built by Beijing as part of a $65-billion investment in Pakistan in the Belt and Road programme designed to expand China's global reach. Islamabad accuses arch-rival India of funding and backing the insurgents in a bid to stoke instability, as Pakistan seeks international investments in the region, a charge New Delhi denies. In March, the BLA blew up a railway track and took hostage more than 400 train passengers in an attack that killed 31, including 23 soldiers. Reuters
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Govt suspends mobile data service in Balochistan province for three weeks
QUETTA: Pakistan government has suspended cell phone data services for three weeks in Balochistan province in a bid to block communications among terrorists behind a surge in recent attacks, an official said. Terrorists have stepped up attacks in recent months, particularly on Pakistan's military, which has launched intelligence-based operations against them. In an order on Wednesday seen by Reuters, the government said the services would be suspended until the end of the month because of the law and order situation in the province, home to key Chinese Belt and Road projects. 'The service has been suspended because they (terrorists) use it for coordination and sharing information,' Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the provincial government, said on Friday. Officials said there are 8.5 million cell phone subscribers in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by size, which borders Afghanistan and Iran. But it is thinly populated, with just 15 million from a national population of 240 million. No casualty reported: Jaffar Express: pilot engine attacked in Balochistan The news follows Pakistan's ban on road travel to Iran late last month, citing security threats. Terrorists primarily attack Pakistani military or Chinese nationals and their interests, but have recently started targeting senior army officers. The military said an officer and two soldiers were killed in a roadside blast set off by the terrorists on Tuesday. The attack targeting a vehicle was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA),a terrorist outfit in the province, which has also claimed responsibility for several attacks on senior officers in recent weeks. The region is home to the Gwadar Port, built by Beijing as part of a $65-billion investment in Pakistan in the Belt and Road programme designed to expand China's global reach. Islamabad accuses arch-rival India of funding and backing the terrorists in a bid to stoke instability, as Pakistan seeks international investments in the region, a charge New Delhi denies. In March, the BLA blew up a railway track and took hostage more than 400 train passengers in an attack that killed 31, including 23 soldiers.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Pakistan cuts mobile and internet services in bid to contain Balochistan insurgency
Authorities in Pakistan have suspended cellular and mobile internet services for three weeks in the restive province of Balochistan in a bid to contain a raging insurgency. The order came a day after a suicide attack on a paramilitary convoy in the Kech district killed at least three personnel and injured many more. Separatist insurgents demanding a larger share of profits from the resources of the mineral-rich province have stepped up attacks in recent months on the military, which has retaliated with an intelligence-based offensive. The government said the services would be suspended until the end of the month, Reuters reported. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said that mobile internet had been blocked in Kohlu, Chaman, Qila Abdullah, Pishin, Loralai, Ziarat, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, and Harnai. 'The service has been suspended because they use it for coordination and sharing information," provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind said on Friday, referring to the insurgents. This week's attack was claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, the strongest of the insurgent groups deemed responsible for the killings of almost 100 people in Balochistan in 2024. In March, the group blew up a railway track and took more than 400 train passengers hostage in an attack that left 31 people dead, including 23 soldiers. Authorities say there are 8.5 million cell phone subscribers in Balochistan. Pakistan's largest province by size borders Afghanistan and Iran, but it is thinly populated, accounting for just 15 million of the national population of 240 million. The suspension follows last month's ban on road travel to Iran. Authorities had cited security threats to impose that ban. Insurgency has roiled Balochistan for decades. The insurgents primarily attack the Pakistani military or Chinese nationals and their interests. The province is home to the Gwadar Port, built by China as part of a £48bn investment in Pakistan under the Belt and Road programme. Pakistan accuses rival India of funding and backing the insurgents in a bid to stoke instability as Islamabad seeks international investments in the region, a charge New Delhi denies.
