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Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Deported Pakistanis to face FIRs and passport cancellations, officials confirm
Listen to article Islamabad: Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi chaired an important meeting in Islamabad. It was decided during the meeting that FIRs would be registered against deported individuals and their passports would also be canceled. It was further decided that deportees would be placed on the Passport Control List for five years. On the instructions of Interior Minister, a committee has been formed under the leadership of the Interior Secretary to further strengthen and improve passport rules and regulations. The Interior Minister stated that deportees are causing embarrassment for Pakistan at International level, thus no leniency will be shown to them in the future. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, Interior Secretary Khurram Agha, DG FIA Riffat Mukhtar Raja, and DG Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi were present on the occasion.
Arab News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan interior minister meets US envoy, conveys ‘serious concerns' over India strikes
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker on Wednesday to convey his country's 'serious concerns' over India's military strikes inside Pakistani territory and its implications for regional peace, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said. Several countries have called for calm between India and Pakistan amid soaring tensions in South Asia, following Indian attacks on six locations inside Pakistan on Wednesday. Islamabad said Indian strikes killed at least 26 civilians and injured 46. In response, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian fighter jets and struck Indian military posts along the Line of Control. Naqvi met Baker in Islamabad to provide her a 'comprehensive' briefing in the aftermath of the Indian strikes and evolving security situation in South Asia, APP reported. US Political Counselor Zachary Harkenrider and Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry were part of the meeting. 'During the meeting, Minister Naqvi gave a comprehensive briefing to the US delegation on the aftermath of the Indian aggression, expressing Pakistan's serious concerns over the incident and its implications for regional peace,' APP said. Naqvi accused India of putting South Asia's peace and stability at stake, APP said. He further stressed 'India has torn apart regional harmony and by targeting civilians, it has blatantly violated international laws.' Naqvi said Pakistan had acted responsibly and showed maximum restraint in the face of Indian provocation. 'We gave a strong and appropriate response in defense of our homeland,' Naqvi was quoted as saying. 'Pakistan will never allow any compromise on its national security.' INTERNATIONAL REACTION US President Donald Trump had reacted to the incident on Wednesday night, condemning the escalation, expressing hope that the fighting would end quickly. 'It's a shame,' he said. 'Just heard about it. I guess people knew something was going to happen based on a little bit of the past. They've been fighting for a long time. They've been fighting for many, many decades. I hope it ends very quickly.' Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was monitoring the situation closely and would continue to engage with the leadership of both countries for a 'peaceful resolution.' A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said India's actions were 'regrettable,' urging both countries to exercise restraint and refrain from further complicating the situation, Reuters reported. United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan called on Pakistan and India 'to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation that could threaten regional and international peace,' Emirates News Agency-WAM reported. Turkiye urged India and Pakistan to act with common sense amid the military escalation between them, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, saying India's latest military action created the risk of an 'all-out war.' In a statement, the ministry reiterated its support for Pakistan's call for an investigation into a militant attack that killed 26 in the Indian-administered side of the Himalayan region on April 22. The UK is ready to support both India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions, Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said on Wednesday, following the worst violence between the nuclear-armed arch-foes in two decades. 'Our message would be that we are a friend, a partner to both countries. We stand ready to support both countries. Both have a huge interest in regional stability, in dialogue, in de-escalation and anything we can do to support that, we are here and willing to do,' he told BBC radio.
Express Tribune
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Mapping of ACC holders finalised
Police officers, along with workers from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), check the identity cards of Afghan citizens during a door-to-door search and verification drive for undocumented Afghan nationals, in an Afghan Camp on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, November 21, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/ File As the March 31 deadline set by the government to repatriate all illegal foreigners approaches, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review the repatriation process of the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders. The ACC is an identification document issued to registered Afghan nationals by Nadra. According to the UN's International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the ACC gives temporary legal status to Afghans during their stay in Pakistan. However, the federal government makes the decision on the duration for which the ACC would remain valid. According to a government document, ACCs staying in Islamabad and Rawalpindi would be moved out and sent back to Afghanistan as part of a multiphase relocation plan for Afghan migrants, including those awaiting resettlement in third countries. The document shows that Proof of Registration (POR) card holders, who had been allowed an extended stay in the country till June 30, 2025, would be relocated from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to some other area. ACCs will be immediately relocated as part of Phase-I alongside undocumented Afghans and eventually repatriated to Afghanistan, according to the document. The Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program (IFRP) has been in effect since November 2023, and in its second phase the ACC holders have been given a deadline of March 31 to voluntarily leave Pakistan. The interior minister stated that continuous coordination is being maintained between the federal and provincial governments regarding the repatriation process, and the federal government will provide full support to the provinces. Additionally, a committee has been formed based on the recommendations of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry will visit the provinces to resolve any issues arising during the repatriation process. Naqvi also directed the authorities concerned to ensure respectful treatment of foreign nationals. During the briefing, it was informed that all arrangements for the repatriation of the ACC holders have been completed. A door-to-door awareness campaign is underway, and the mapping of Afghan Citizen Card holders has been finalised. Furthermore, holding centers, food provisions, and healthcare facilities have also been arranged for those returning. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, the Federal Secretary for Interior, the Secretary for Kashmir Affairs & SAFRON, Chief Secretaries and Inspectors General (IGs) of all provinces, the Director General of FIA, the IG of Islamabad Police, the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad, the Coordinator of the National Action Plan, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Law, and security agencies. In November 2023, Pakistan launched a crackdown on undocumented foreigners. Since then, more than 815,000 individuals have been repatriated. One of US President Donald Trump's first actions upon returning to office was to halt the resettlement programme for Afghans, who had worked with US forces before its 2021 withdrawal or were involved in human rights activism. The suspension has disrupted the processing and relocation of nearly 25,000 Afghans currently in Pakistan, many of whom remain at risk of persecution under the Taliban regime due to their past affiliations.
Al Jazeera
12-03-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
Who are the BLA – the group behind Pakistan's deadly train hijack?
Islamabad, Pakistan – Security forces in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan say they have concluded a military operation against armed separatists who hijacked the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express on Tuesday, rescuing 346 passengers. Officials said the military had killed all 33 of the attackers from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The train, carrying nearly 400 passengers, had left Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, in the morning when it was intercepted by BLA fighters near a series of tunnels, about 160km (100 miles) away. General Ahmed Sharif , director general of the Inter Services Public Relations, the military's media wing confirmed that 27 civilians — including the train driver — and one paramilitary soldier involved in the operation had also been killed. State Interior Minister Tallal Chaudhry told Al Jazeera that the fighters had used several hostages as 'human shields'. In recent years, the BLA has significantly expanded the scale and sophistication of its operations – conducting more than 150 attacks last year alone – culminating in this recent train hijacking. But what is the BLA, when was it created, who are its leaders, what are the group's demands, and how has it managed to wage a battle with the state for several years? Why is there a secessionist movement in Balochistan? Balochistan – Pakistan's largest but least populous province – has a long history of marginalisation. The province was annexed by Pakistan in 1948, six months after its partition from India in August 1947, and has witnessed several separatist movements ever since. Home to about 15 million of Pakistan's estimated 240 million people, according to the 2023 census, Balochistan remains the country's poorest region despite being rich in natural resources such as coal, gold, copper, and gas. These resources generate substantial revenue for the federal government. The province is also home to one of Pakistan's major deep-sea ports at Gwadar, a crucial trade corridor for the $62bn China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which aims to link southwestern China to the Arabian Sea through Pakistan. However, Baloch nationalists allege that the Pakistani state has neglected their people while exploiting the province's resources, triggering separatist movements and armed rebellions. When was the BLA created, and what led to its formation? Balochistan has witnessed at least five separatist uprisings since Pakistan's formation in 1947. The latest wave began in the early 2000s, initially focused on securing a larger share of the province's resources for its people but soon escalating into calls for complete independence. With growing resentment towards the state, the BLA emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Analysts studying Baloch resistance movements say it was led by Balach Marri, son of veteran Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri. The rebellion intensified in 2006 after the government, under military ruler Pervez Musharraf, killed prominent Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti. Balach Marri was also killed a year later, and the government subsequently banned the BLA. Balach Marri's father, Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, passed away in December 2014. Over the years, the BLA has distinguished itself as a group committed to Balochistan's complete independence from Pakistan. Unlike moderate Baloch nationalist groups advocating provincial autonomy, the BLA has never pursued a middle ground. Malik Siraj Akbar, a researcher specialising in the Baloch separatist movement, says that while the BLA's core demand for an independent Balochistan remains unchanged, its leadership, operational geography, and strategies have evolved over time. 'Today, the BLA operates with little to no influence from the Marri tribe. Instead, its leadership has shifted to educated Baloch figures, many of whom were once part of the non-violent Baloch Students Organization (BSO),' he told Al Jazeera. Who are the major leaders of the BLA? The BLA took up arms against the Pakistani state due to what it considered the federal government's 'continuous misadventures', which, it claimed, undermined genuine political and socioeconomic progress in the province. Akbar notes that the BLA was initially a very secretive organisation, but a significant shift occurred when leadership transitioned from Marri tribesmen to middle-class Baloch leaders. 'The new leadership displayed a greater tendency to showcase their power and capabilities in the media. Among them, the most prominent figures include Aslam Baloch, who was later killed in 2018, and, more recently, Bashir Zaib, former student leader of the BSO,' Akbar added. Fahad Nabeel, who leads the Islamabad-based research consultancy Geopolitical Insights, says Bashir Zaib Baloch is the current leader of the BLA and was likely behind the Jaffar Express hijacking. Bashir Zaib, in his mid-40s, belongs to the Nushki district of Balochistan, situated 150km (93 miles) south of Quetta. He earned a diploma from a polytechnical college in Quetta. 'After Aslam Baloch's death in a bomb attack in Kandahar, Afghanistan, the group's leadership passed to Bashir Zaib Baloch,' Nabeel told Al Jazeera. In 2010, the group launched its suicide squad – the Majeed Brigade, which remained dormant for a few years then came into prominence in 2018 when Aslam Baloch sent his own son to target Chinese engineers working in the Balochistan city of Dalbandin. The attack injured five people, including the three Chinese nationals, but there were no fatalities, apart from Aslam's son. That sparked a broader trend of the BLA attacking Chinese citizens and installations in recent years. The group attacked the Chinese consulate in Karachi in November 2018, a month before Aslam Baloch's death. Four people were killed, including two policemen, while the Chinese staff remained safe. Security forces were able to quell the attack within an hour, killing all three assailants. However, Akbar notes that the BLA's Majeed Brigade truly gained global attention when one of its female suicide bombers, Shari Baloch, targeted Chinese nationals at Karachi University in 2022. At least four people were killed, including three Chinese nationals, after Shari, a 30-year-old woman, blew up a minivan outside the university's Confucius Institute, a Chinese language and cultural centre. 'While Bashir Zaib introduced female militants, his deputy, Hammal Rehan, oversees Majeed Brigade's operations,' Nabeel said. Rehan is also in his mid-40s and is believed to be well-educated, with command over several languages, including English, Urdu and Persian. According to Nabeel, a former Pakistani military official turned renegade, Rehman Gul Baloch, has significantly enhanced the group's capabilities. The former military man is in his early 40s, and is also from Nushki. A graduate of the University of Peshawar, he joined the Pakistan Army in 2002, but within eight years, decided to quit and join the BLA. Rehman Gul Baloch, Nabeel said, has helped the group improve its 'combat skills, enabling it to move from hit-and-run attacks to large-scale operations'. How does the BLA recruit fighters? Observers say the BLA's greatest strength is its ability to enlist young, well-schooled soldiers. 'Recruiting young, educated fighters is no longer a challenge, as the group enjoys significant popularity among Baloch youth, despite the controversial nature of its operations,' Akbar says. He adds that despite the group's responsibility for civilian deaths, including Baloch citizens, and its use of female suicide bombers, such tactics have drawn only limited criticism. 'Instead, its appeal has grown among young Baloch, many of whom believe armed struggle is the only viable path for their people's survival,' he added. Imtiaz Baloch, a researcher at The Khorasan Diary (TKD), a platform tracking regional security, added that the BLA was able to gain sympathy among the people in part due to the state's 'incompetence'. 'High-handed state policies, bad governance, lack of accountability, and cases of enforced disappearances have become catalysts for militants to recruit and influence more sympathizers, including people with highly educated backgrounds such as professional IT experts, data analysts, and other professionals, thereby broadening their reach and social media influence,' he told Al Jazeera. How does the BLA fund its operations? While the BLA's funding sources remain unclear, analysts suggest multiple revenue streams, including illicit activities such as extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking. The Pakistan government claims India funds the BLA, but Akbar, who says that most of the BLA leadership is in Pakistan after spending years in Afghanistan, says those assertions are hard to accept at face value. 'Given Pakistan's tendency to blame India for almost every issue, such claims are difficult to accept without solid evidence,' he said. 'If the government provides concrete proof of Indian support, only then will its accusations hold weight. What is clear, however, is that the BLA has a well-funded backer, and its fighters receive highly professional training tailored specifically for insurgency.' Islamabad-based Imtiaz Baloch from The Khorasan Diary, however, said income from massive coal mines in Balochistan province is a main economic source for the group. 'The recent operations by the separatist Baloch armed groups have been highly effective, as they have utilised many American weapons. Following their withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, it was easy to procure [these] from the porous border it shares with Afghanistan,' he added. Nabeel, on the other hand, said that he believes most of the BLA leadership is operating out of Iran and Afghanistan. He argued that the group generates funds from multiple illicit activities ranging from drug trafficking to kidnapping people for ransom. 'Certain individuals from the Baloch diaspora also provide financial support,' he said. 'Their training takes place in Iran, Afghanistan, and certain parts of Balochistan, whereas weapons are procured from black markets operating in Iran and Afghanistan, along with leftover American weapons.' How does the BLA build its narrative? Akbar said that the failure of governance and 'dissatisfaction' with the provincial government help the BLA increase its influence among a disenchanted public. 'Many view it [the provincial government] as more loyal to Islamabad than to the people of Balochistan, particularly because it refuses to take a stand on critical issues like enforced disappearances,' he said. Muhammad Shoaib, an academic and a security analyst at the Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, said that the group has managed to spread its message using social media. 'BLA has learned the art of staying in news and keeping the state apparatus engaged on multiple fronts. The quantity of attacks and fronts tell us that BLA's recruitment is increasing and now it can dedicate more resources and personnel for operations,' he told Al Jazeera. Nabeel said that the BLA has honed its 'propaganda efforts' in recent years, and noted that the group's media outlet 'provides timely updates on militant activities and publishes literature and combat videos to attract potential recruits'.
