RAWALPINDI, NOV 20 /DNA/ – Khwarij attempted to attack a Joint Check Post in general area MaliKhel in Bannu District. In ensuing fire exchange, six khwarij were sent to hell. The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted by own troops, which forced the khwarij to ram an explosive laden vehicle into the perimeter wall of the post.

The suicide blast led to collapse of portion of perimeter wall and damaged the adjoining infrastructure, resulting in Shahadat of twelve brave sons of soil that include ten Soldiers of the security forces and two soldiers of Frontier Constabulary.

Sanitization operation is being conducted in the area and the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice. Security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve.

ISLAMABAD, /DNA/ – On 15 November 2024, the Closing Ceremony of Exercise Harimau Markhor Series 2/2024 was successfully held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pakistan. The event was attended by Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Dato’ Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, who highlighted the exercise’s success in fostering closer defence ties between Malaysia and Pakistan.

The ceremony was officiated jointly by the Commander of the 2nd Infantry Division Malaysia (2 Div), Major General Dato’ Hj Fazal Hj Abdul Rahman, and the Commander of the 23rdDivision of the Pakistan Army, Major General Muhammad IntikhabAlam.

The two-week joint exercise, which ran from 4 to 15 November 2024, focused on Counter-Terrorism Operations in jungle environments. It facilitated the exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures, along with valuable insights into Pakistan’s diverse and challenging terrain.

The 2ndHarimauMarkhor exercise has significantly strengthened the military-to-military relationship between Malaysia and Pakistan, and developed greater understanding through the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and operational skills.

The exercise involved five (5) officers and 13 personnel from the 5thBattalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment (5RRD), along with a Doctrine Evaluation Officer from the Headquarters of Army Training and Doctrine Command (MK PLDTD). The Pakistan Army was also represented by five (5) officers and 28 personnel from the 4thLight Commando Battalion (LCB).

As part of the Closing Ceremony, attendees witnessed a Clearance of Stronghold demonstration, followed by a formal Closing Parade.

During the visit, the Malaysian delegation, led by the Commander of 2 Div, conducted courtesy calls on the Commander of the 23rd Division of the Pakistan Army and the Commandant of the NCTC.

The event was also attended by key dignitaries, including Malaysia’s Defense Adviser in Islamabad, Colonel Noraripin Othman, the Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of 2 Div HQ, Lt Colonel Ku Syairi Ahmad, the Commanding Officer of 5 RRD, Lt Colonel Chai Kean Seng and the First Secretary of the High Commission of Malaysia in Islamabad, Mr. Muhammad Zulasri bin Rosdi.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 19 /DNA/ – Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting of the Federal Apex Committee today, attended by the Federal Cabinet, Provincial Chief Ministers, General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and senior government officials.

The agenda of the meeting focused on the “Reinvigorating Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism (CT) Campaign”. The participants were briefed on the evolving security landscape and the measures being taken to counter terrorism and other critical challenges, including general law and order situation, actions against efforts to stoke sub-nationalism, religious extremism, tackling the illegal spectrum & crime-terror nexus, subversion and disinformation campaigns, among other issues.

The Committee highlighted the necessity of a unified political voice and a cohesive national narrative to effectively address these multifaceted challenges. It was emphasized that political support across party lines and complete national consensus are critical to reinvigorating the national CT campaign under the framework of Vision Azm-e-Istehkam. Revitalisation of NACTA and the establishment of National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre was also agreed upon.

A whole-of-system approach was adopted, incorporating diplomatic, political, informational, intelligence, socio-economic, and military efforts to address these issues comprehensively. Specific emphasis was placed on strengthening collaboration between federal and provincial governments and between relevant institutions and ministries to ensure seamless execution of the CT campaign. It was decided to establish District Coordination Committees under the Provincial Apex Committees to ensure implementation of directions received from Federal and Provincial Governments. The forum demonstrated political resolve to dismantle ecosystem of illegal spectrum and crime-terror nexus.

The participants also approved a comprehensive military operation against terrorist organisations operating in Balochistan including the Majeed Brigade, BLA, BLF and BRAS who are targeting innocent civilians and foreign nationals to scuttle Pakistan’s economic progress by creating insecurity at the behest of hostile external powers. COAS reiterated the Pakistan Army’s unwavering resolve to eliminate all threats to national security and provide robust support to the government’s initiatives aimed at ensuring peace and stability.

At the conclusion, the Prime Minister directed all stakeholders to pursue the outlined initiatives with vigor, ensuring their timely implementation. He underscored the importance of sustained, coordinated efforts to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty, ensure the safety of its citizens, and reinforce economic and social stability.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 19 /DNA/ – “The Government of Pakistan should host an international multilateral stakeholders’ conference aimed at addressing the challenges related to the voluntary repatriation and third-country resettlement of Afghan refugees,” said Muhammad Abbas Khan, the Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees (CCAR) at the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON).

He added that the main objective of the conference should be to encourage the Western countries to increase their quotas and expedite the process for admitting Afghan applicants into their countries from Pakistan. He was speaking at a seminar titled “Challenges and Opportunities in Repatriation and Resettlement of Afghan Refugees” organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS).Mr Khan underscored the importance of international burden-sharing, urging global stakeholders to enhance resettlement opportunities for Afghan citizens on Pakistani soil.

The Chief Commissioner shared that there were around 600,000 Afghan resettlement applicants registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) but that UNHCR’s quota for resettlement applications for the year was only 8,000. This, he maintained, was very unrealistic.Mr Khan, highlighted the immense challenges associated with repatriating Afghan refugees. Forced displacement, he noted, was a cross-cutting issue, encompassing social, political, economic, and security dimensions and increasingly intersecting with climate change. He added that Afghanistan’s fragile absorption capacity and limited infrastructure made reintegration of the returning Afghan citizens a challenging proposition.

He further stressed the importance of addressing psychosocial adjustment challenges and called for efforts to create a secure and investment-friendly environment in Afghanistan to support sustainable reintegration.The Chief Commissioner shared that Pakistan had repatriated over 4 million Afghan refugees since 2002 and argued that most of the refugee population of 2024 was born and raised in Pakistan and were dependent on Pakistan for economic, health, and educational services. He further stated that Afghanistan capacity to absorb large numbers of refugees was highly limited.

Despite these hurdles, Mr Khan expressed hope that the refugees, 70 per cent of whom are under the age of 30, had the potential to contribute significantly to Afghanistan’s reconstruction.Highlighting Pakistan’s contributions to hosting millions of Afghan refugees over decades, the CCAR underscored the peculiar characteristics of Pakistan’s Afghan refugee situation. He called for a balanced approach towards the subject of Afghan refugees grounded in up-to-date and reliable facts and figures rather than misplaced perceptions. “The reality lies somewhere between perceptions and data,” he remarked.President IRS Ambassador Jauhar Saleem called for a coordinated international response in consultation with the Government of Pakistan to streamline the resettlement process and provide adequate support for Afghan refugees transitioning to new lives in Western countries.

The seminar concluded with recommendations, including strengthening voluntary repatriation programs, fostering global collaboration, and investing in host communities. Participants also called for efforts to ensure Afghanistan becomes more secure and investment-friendly, enabling it to absorb returning refugees effectively.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 19 /DNA/ – Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari, held a productive meeting with Qasim Mohiuuddin, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, at the Pakistani Embassy in Baku on Tuesday. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP29) and focused on strengthening humanitarian efforts and addressing climate change challenges.

Chairman Sardar Shahid Ahmed Laghari briefed the Ambassador on PRCS’s mandate, key programs, and recent interventions. He highlighted PRCS’s active role in supporting vulnerable communities, particularly during the recovery phase following the devastating 2022 monsoon floods in Pakistan. He emphasized the organization’s participation in CoP29, presenting recommendations to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable populations in Pakistan.

Chairman Laghari also outlined PRCS’s multifaceted humanitarian efforts, including healthcare services, water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives, as well as women’s empowerment programs through livelihood support and maternal and child health interventions. He stressed the importance of leveraging innovation, technology, and research to enhance the resilience and welfare of communities.

Ambassador Qasim Mohiuuddin commended PRCS’s exemplary humanitarian services during floods and disasters. He appreciated PRCS’s active engagement at CoP29 and assured his full support to Pakistan Red Crescent Society in Azerbaijan, reaffirming the Embassy’s commitment to collaboration in humanitarian and climate resilience initiatives.

This meeting underscores PRCS’s commitment to addressing global challenges through collaboration, innovation, and proactive engagement at international forums.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 19 /DNA/ – Jemal Beker Abdula, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, on Tuesday called on H.E. Kamran Khan Tessori and discussed different means to enhance bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides discussed matters of common interest including needful initiatives to increase bilateral cooperation in aviation, economic, education, health, science and technology sectors.

H.E. Ambassador Jemal Beker Abdula briefed the Governor Sindh about the second phase of Home Grown Economic Reforms Programme of Ethiopia, which is aimed at addressing macroeconomic imbalances, increasing productivity, creating ease of doing business, and also a conducive environment for Foreign Direct Investment through domestically designed policies.

The Ambassador also highlighted enormous business, trade and investment opportunities in its major economic sectors including agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, mining, tourism and ICT.

Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker lauded the role being played by the Governor Sindh for empowering the youth of Pakistan by equipping them with modern technologies that enabled them to become global citizens.

On the other hand, the Governor Sindh briefed the Ambassador about the courses and trainings of modern skills being imparted to the youth in the Governor House for enabling them to get respectable and profitable livelihoods.

The Governor Sindh said the Government of Pakistan is committed to the Look Africa and Engage Africa policy, appreciating the Ethiopian Airlines role in connecting his country with the whole continent of Africa with a market of over 1.4 billion people.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 19 /DNA/ – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomes the statement issued by the G20 summit in Brazil, which included support and adoption of the two-state solution and a call for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and a demand for the entry of aid and a warning of the dangers of the worsening humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip.

At the same time, the Ministry calls on all countries and the international community to translate positions and statements into practical steps that oblige Israel to immediately stop the war of extermination and displacement and abide by international legitimacy resolutions and relevant precautionary orders.

In a related context, the Ministry welcomes the US Treasury’s decision to impose sanctions on the “Amana” settlement organization and its colonial company, which is active in building and developing settlements, and calls on the US administration to impose sanctions on the entire colonial settlement system on the path to ending the occupation in accordance with international law and the General Assembly resolution that adopted the advisory opinion of the International Justice.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 19: Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has agreed to hold talks but only with the “powerful quarters”, his lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry said as the former ruling party is all set to hold “do-or-die protest” in Islamabad on November 24.

“The PTI founder agreed to hold talks in a nearly two-hour meeting with [party chairman] Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister] Ali Amin Gandapur at Adiala Jail,” the counsel said while speaking to Geo News on Tuesday.

Giving details regarding the meeting, Chaudhry said, Gandapur and Barrister Gohar visited Adiala Jail to seek permission to hold talks “if contact is made”.

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“Imran gave the go-ahead to hold talks with powerful quarters only and on the PTI demands,” he added.

In response to a question, the lawyer said the November 24 protest would end only when “demands will be met”. Meanwhile, he said, CM Gandapur apprised the former premier of preparations related to the upcoming demonstration.

Speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan — Imran’s sister — has confirmed the development, saying that the incarcerated party founder gave the go-ahead only to seek the return of the “stolen mandate”.

“He [Imran] allowed to hold talks for release of jailed workers and leaders and restoration of democracy in the country,” she said, adding that the former premier has set a deadline till Thursday for the party leaders to hold talks with the “powerful quarters”.

“The November 24 would turn into a celebration, had the stolen mandate returned,” she added.

The statements the contradict PTI’s official stance as party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram earlier today ruled out possibility of holding talks with the stakeholders prior to their planned countrywide demonstration.

Speaking to Geo News’ programme ‘Naya Pakistan’ on Sunday, Akram said: “There is no possibility of negotiations with the government or the establishment before the protest.”

However, a report by The News stated that a high-level contact was established between the Imran Khan-founded party and an important member of the government to work on a “possible breakthrough”.

A source claimed that the initial contact was positive. The News has the names of contact persons from both sides but the information was shared on the condition that their names will not be disclosed.

According to the source, the government’s contact person will take the powers that be into confidence and if things proceed positively, the PTI may call off its November 24 protest march in return for some assurances for meeting their demands.

KP CM Gandapur had already told The News that he would raise in the Apex Committee the issue of Imran Khan, the PTI and the ongoing tension between his party and the military establishment.

The PTI, which claims to stage a big show in Islamabad on November 24th, is already worn out by the hardships and political outcomes of its confrontation with the military establishment.

There is discussion even within the PTI that it should stop targeting the institution and its top leadership as it did not work in the past and will not do well in the future.