Captain among three soldiers killed in cross-border attack

KHAR: Three security personnel, including an army captain, were killed in an attack by Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban militants in Mamond tehsil in Bajaur Agency, official and tribal sources said on Saturday.

Sources said heavily armed militants operating from the Kunar province of Afghanistan stormed the checkpost of the security forces in Ghakhi Pass near the Pak-Afghan border.

Three soldiers were killed while two persons, including a civilian, suffered injuries in the attack.

The injured were taken to the Agency Headquarters Hospital in Khar, the administrative headquarters of Bajaur Agency, from where they were referred to a military hospital in Peshawar due to their critical condition.

The political administration and the security forces arrested 60 suspects during a search operation in the area after the attack. Such arrests are mostly made under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) against the tribesmen living in the area where the attack has taken place.

The security forces also defused two remote controlled bombs during the search.

The militants affiliated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Kunar often attack border areas in Bajaur. However, it was the first major attack after the Pakistani forces launched a major operation against the militants in North Waziristan on June 15.

The TTP Bajaur Agency chapter claimed responsibility for the night-time attack. It spokesperson, who uses the same name, Shahidullah Shahid, as the central spokesman of the TTP, made a phone call to reporters in Khar and Peshawar using the SIM of Afghanistan’s mobile phone service, to claim responsibility for the attack. He said their men operating in the border area blew up the vehicle of the security forces supplying troops in Gakhi Pass and killed all seven soldiers on board. He claimed the Taliban fighters also seized weapons and other equipment and brought these to their bases.

Meanwhile, Yousaf Raza Mujahid, claiming to be the head of the obscure Taliban al-Qaeda group in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, appealed to the Pakistani government and the “mujahideen” to announce a ceasefire keeping in view the prevailing security situation in the country.

In a phone call from an undisclosed location to reporters, he said the enemies of the country were benefiting from the rift between the Taliban and the government.

He urged the leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to play their role in steering the country out of the prevailing crises and strengthening democracy.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan strongly condemned the terrorist attack. The governor expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of precious lives of security personnel.

The governor said that the immortal sacrifices of the officers and jawans of the security forces, FC and Pakistan Army for the security of the country will never go in vain and will always be remembered with great pride.

NNI adds from Islamabad: Pakistan lodged a formal protest with Afghanistan over the cross-border attack.

“Pakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attack on a Bajaur Scouts vehicle at Gakhi Pass in Bajaur Agency launched from across the border in Afghanistan. An officer and two soldiers embraced Shahadat in the attack, while two soldiers were critically injured,” the Foreign Office said.

It said a strong protest had been lodged with the Afghan side in Islamabad and Kabul. “It has been reiterated that Afghanistan should eliminate terrorist sanctuaries and not allow its territory to be used against Pakistan,” said the FO statement.

It said at a time when a “monumental effort” was underway through a major offensive to eliminate all terrorists and their hideouts in North Waziristan tribal region, Afghanistan’s cooperation remained essential for the success of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism endeavours.

INP adds: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif condemned the cross-border terrorist attack on a Pakistani checkpost in Bajaur Agency in which three soldiers, including a captain, embraced martyrdom.

In a statement, the prime minister said the security forces were fighting the war against terrorism to protect the future of the country and laying down their lives for the purpose.

The prime minister said the nation will always remember the sacrifices of the armed forces for the country. He said such attacks could not deter the resolve of the government to eliminate terrorism.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif also condemned the attack on security forces in Bajaur.

They prayed that Almighty Allah rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss with equanimity.

Another 13 militants killed in NWA airstrikes

 

MIRANSHAH: Military authorities on Saturday claimed another 13 militants have been killed and seven of their hideouts destroyed in airstrikes in the Mir Ali subdivision of North Waziristan Agency.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said fighter jets pounded the hideouts of militants after they fired rockets on the posts of the security forces in Mir Ali on Saturday morning.

It said the jets pounded seven hideouts of the militants and killed 13 terrorists. The statement said most of those killed were foreigners.

According to ISPR, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was also destroyed in the airstrikes. It also said consolidation of the cleared area in Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan, and on the Miranshah-Dattakhel road is in progress.

According to the military officials, six motorcycle-borne improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two vehicle-borne IEDs, both ready to be used in terrorist attacks, two 12.7 mm guns, one 14.5 mm gun, three vehicles, 11 suicide jackets and a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered during the last 24 hours in Khar Warsak and Zartangi.

They said three terrorists, including an Uzbek national, have been apprehended from the Boya area. They added that two explosives-laden vehicles were destroyed through aviation strike at Degan village. They claimed two suicide bombers were identified and chased and eventually they exploded and took their lives when encircled close to Boya.

ISPR said relief operations for the IDPs were continuing at full pace in Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Peshawar.

“So far 96,533 ration packs each weighing 110 kilograms have been distributed among the IDPs,” it added.

According to the ISPR statement, 1,012 tonnes of ration has been collected so far at 59 relief collection points established by the Pakistan Army throughout the country. It said most of the ration has been transported to Bannu.

“The army doctors, specially moved to reinforce the local medical effort at Bannu, are busy in providing relief to the patients. So far 12,587 patients have been treated at the Field Medical Hospital established at Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital in Bannu by army doctors,” it added.

45 more killed in Gaza as toll reaches 151

GAZA CITY: At least 15 Palestinians were killed in new Israeli strikes on Gaza City late on Saturday, medics in the coastal enclave said.
“At least 15 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on the Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City that hit a house and a mosque,” emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said. An earlier toll said 10 were killed.Another 35 were wounded in the same strike, and one more person was killed in southern Gaza´s Rafah that also injured five people, Qudra said.

The new deaths brought the toll in the fifth day of the conflict to 151, with more than 1,000 people wounded.

Earlier, Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip killed 30 people on Saturday, including two severely handicapped women in a care facility, medics said.

The Jewish state kept options open for a possible ground offensive into densely populated Gaza despite international pressure to negotiate a ceasefire in the conflict.

In strikes, eight people were killed in raids on Gaza City, central El-Bureij and northern Jabaliya. They included a woman aged 25, and a 16-year-old, Qudra said.

Earlier, six men were killed in the Sheikh Radwan district of western Gaza City, Qudra said. Aged from 21 to 58, they were sitting outside homes in the area when the strike hit, witnesses said. Neighbours told AFP two nephews of former Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya were among them and named them as Nidal and Alaa al-Malash.

Their deaths followed an early morning strike that killed two women at a charitable association housing the disabled in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. The women, Suha Abu Saada and Ola Washahi, both had severe mental and physical handicaps, association director Jamila Alaywa said. Four others were wounded in the attack —three residents and a helper, she said.

Another three people were killed in eastern Gaza City and three in an attack on the western side of town.

Earlier, Qudra announced the deaths of eight other Palestinians in raids that hit targets including a bank, two mosques and the houses of Hamas officials. Israel’s military said at least one of the mosques was being used to store weapons.

Israel began Operation Protective Edge on Tuesday in an attempt to halt cross-border rocket fire by militant groups. Gaza militants have fired approximately 525 mortar rounds and rockets that struck Israel, while another 138 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system, the army said on Saturday.

Despite international concern, truce efforts have been unsuccessful, according to Egypt, which has been key in mediating previous ceasefires between Hamas and Israel. “Egypt has communicated with all sides to halt violence against civilians and called on them to continue with the truce agreement signed in November 2012,” the foreign ministry said.

“Former British premier Tony Blair, the envoy for the so-called Quartet of Middle East diplomatic players, flew into Cairo on Saturday for talks on ending the violence.

Ismail Haniya, Gaza’s former premier and the most senior Hamas official in the coastal enclave, ruled out any halt to hostilities. “(Israel) is the one that started this aggression and it must stop, because we are (simply) defending ourselves,” he said.

Israel says preparations are underway for a possible ground incursion, with tanks and artillery massed along the border and some 33,000 reservists mobilised out of 40,000 approved by the cabinet. More armour was seen heading south on Saturday morning.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said he expected a political decision on a possible ground operation by Sunday. “At the moment we are dealing with the first phase air attacks,” he told Channel One television on Friday. “I imagine we shall decide tomorrow (Saturday) or the day after on the next stage.

Kuwait requested an emergency Arab foreign ministers meeting to discuss “the deteriorating situation”, which a diplomat at the Arab League said will be held on Monday.

Israeli strikes on residential buildings in Gaza brought a rebuke from the UN human rights office over civilian casualty toll. “Even when a home is identified as being used for military purposes, any attack must be proportionate and precautions must be taken to protect civilians,” said spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.

Amnesty International called for the United Nations “to immediately impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups” and launch an enquiry into “violations committed on all sides”.

Reuters add: Israel rushed an eighth missile interceptor battery into service on Saturday to counter stronger-than-expected rocket fire from Gaza as the military pounded positions in the Palestinian enclave for a fifth day.

A mosque in the central Gaza Strip was bombed to rubble. The Israeli military said the mosque had housed a weapons cache.

“Eight other mosques have been damaged from bombing and 537 Gaza houses have either been destroyed or damaged, according to the Gaza-based Al-Mezan Association for Human Rights.

Three killed in rain related incidents in Lahore

LAHORE: Three persons including two sisters were killed and two others were injured in different rain related incidents in Lahore, Geo News reported on Tuesday.

According to the rescue sources, two sisters lost their lives when the roof of their fragile quarter came down in Singhpora area of Lahore due to heavy rain last night. The deceased sisters were identified as Iqra aged 16 and Muskan, 10.

On the other hand, a man was killed when one of the walls of his house collapsed in Badami Bagh area of Lahore last night. Two others also sustained injuries in the incident who were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Russian journalist killed in east Ukraine: employer

MOSCOW: A journalist with Russian public television has been shot dead in east Ukraine where pro-Moscow separatists are battling Ukrainian forces, the media worker´s employer Channel One said Monday.

Anatoly Klyan, a 68-year-old cameraman, was among a group of Russian journalists on a reporting trip with the insurgents, the TV channel said.

"Once on site, shots rang out from the soldiers´ side. Anatoly Klyan was mortally wounded in the stomach," said the channel.

The driver of the bus transporting the journalists was wounded and in hospital on Monday morning, said a reporter from Russian news channel Rossiya 24.Klyan had worked 40 years for the Russian channel and had carried out several missions in difficult conditions, his employer said.

On June 17, two members of a Russian television crew were killed in the ex-Soviet state´s separatist east. They were the first Russian media workers confirmed to have died in eastern Ukraine since fighting erupted there in mid-April.

Italian photographer Andrea Rocchelli and his Russian assistant Andrei Mironov were killed also killed in the restive region in late May.

19 terrorists killed as military operation continues in NWA

RAWALPINDI: Nineteen terrorists have been killed as operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ launched by the Pakistan military continues in North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

According to the ISPR, PAF jet aircrafts destroyed six confirmed terrorist hideouts on the outskirts of Mir Ali killing eleven terrorists on Friday evening. Terrorist concentrations were also targeted on Saturday morning by Artillery Tanks and heavy weapons outside Miranshah killing seven terrorists.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander of Miranshah, Umer has also been killed by security forces last night on the outskirts of Miranshah.

ISPR states that after the surrender of 19 terrorists there are reports that more terrorists are ready to lay down their arms. Meanwhile, one prominent Al-Qaeda commander has been arrested while trying to flee and initial investigations shows him as an explosive, IED and suicide belt expert. Three terrorists were arrested by security forces while trying to cross the Indus River near Mir Ali.

An effective cordon is in place around terrorist hideouts in all places in North Waziristan Agency.

The civilian population has been evacuated from North Waziristan and announcements are being made for any stranded tribals who may have stayed back for any reasons, to leave also.

Five militants killed in operation Zarb-e-Azb

PESHAWAR: At least five militants were killed and six hideouts were destroyed as the Pakistan Army continued its assault in North Waziristan on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the health workers administered polio vaccine to children’s of Internally Displaced Persons from the tribal area.

Health workers have been working to administer polio drops in the far-flung areas since Wednesday.

A Ration Point has also been established on Bannu Kohat road where the IDPs were getting food items.

13 terrorists killed in NWA bombing 12 surrender

MIRANSHAH: The fighter aircraft of PAF continued pounding suspected positions of militants in the Mir Ali subdivision of North Waziristan on Wednesday, killing 13 terrorists.

Military authorities said the aircraft had struck five sanctuaries of militants in Mir Ali, where the militants were still hiding, despite the fact that local residents had already vacated their houses and villages.

Also, the Inter-Services (ISPR) said in a statement that 12 terrorists surrendered to the security forces in North Waziristan Agency on Wednesday.It didn’t disclose identity of the militants surrendered to the security forces. Also, it was not clear whether those surrendered belonged to the North Waziristan Taliban leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur group or the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Meanwhile, North Waziristan remained under curfew for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. Though majority of the residents had fled the tribal region, there was no traffic on roads and all shops and markets remained closed due to curfew in North Waziristan.Official sources said security had been tightened on checkpoints and observation posts set up on hilltops in the tribal region.

47 more terrorists killed in Khyber, NWA

 

PESHAWAR: Forty-seven terrorists were killed and their 23 hideouts were destroyed in the security forces operation in Khyber and North Waziristan tribal agencies on Tuesday.A suicide bombing attempt on a security forces checkpost in North Waziristan was also foiled in which two soldiers and a civilian embraced martyrdom.
Despite announcing a ceasefire by the North Waziristan-based Taliban till the 10th day of upcoming Eidul Fitr, a suicide bomber driving an explosive-laden car attacked a checkpoint in the Spinwam area of the volatile tribal region, killing two paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and a tribesman.

Military authorities gave two different versions about the nature of the blast.Some military officials, soon after the attack, said that unknown people had parked an explosive-laden car in the parking area of the Civil Hospital in Spinwam, which is adjacent to an old fort housing personnel of the FC.

They said the blast caused damage to the FC fort and resulted in the death of two personnel and injuries to seven others. However, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) later issued a statement and said the soldiers at a roadside checkpoint asked a car to stop but when he didn’t obey, the troops opened fire on it.

According to the ISPR, a suicide bomber was driving an explosive-laden car and had planned to hit an important security installations in the same area.The suicide bomber blew himself up even before reaching the roadside checkpoint and killed three people, two of them FC personnel, and a civilian. Seven other FC men were reportedly injured in the blast.

According to tribal sources, the security forces later cordoned off the area and rescued the injured soldiers.Though the local administration had clamped a curfew in the entire tribal region, it was learnt after the suicide attack the government and military authorities had exempted the residents of four major residential towns including Garyoom, Razmak, Dosali and Spinwam from displacement.

There was no curfew in Spinwam in Mir Ali subdivision, adjacent to Thall Tehsil in Hangu district, and that’s why the suicide bomber managed to travel on the Mir Ali-Thall Road and carry out suicide attack.

Meanwhile, Ansarul Mujahideen, a mysterious militant organisation believed to be operated by Arab fighters, claimed responsibility for the first suicide attack in North Waziristan following the military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, launched on June 15 against local and foreign militants.

Its spokesman, Abu Baseer said it was part of the Zarb-e-Momin operations announced by the North Waziristan-based Taliban leader Hafiz Gul Bahadur in response to Zarb-e-Azb military operation of the government in North Waziristan.

Asked how did Ansarul Mujahideen justify starting attacks on the security forces when Hafiz Gul Bahadur himself had announced a ceasefire till the 10th day of Eidul Fitr, Abu Baseer argued that their responsibility was to assist the ‘Mujahideen’ in trouble but weren’t required to obey their personal decisions.“It’s the beginning our operations, see how do we react in future,” the spokesman threatened.

Taliban sources said Ansarul Mujahideen is the new name of another mysterious and dangerous militant organisation, Khurasan, that used to kidnap tribespeople and then ruthlessly kill them on charges of spying for the Pakistan Army and US military and passing on information to Americans on local and foreign militants to kill them through drone attacks in North Waziristan.

Sources said that its head is an Arab national and operates from North Waziristan. According to Taliban sources, Ansarul Mujahideen is having dozens of suicide bombers. However, like militants of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its associated militant groups, majority members of Ansarul Mujahideen had fled North Waziristan and established sanctuaries in new places.

Taliban close to Hafiz Gul Bahadur said that he had turned down when the TTP leader Maulana Fazlullah and his other commanders offered him their assistance in fighting against the Pakistan government.Meanwhile, after the suicide attack in Spinwam, military authorities said fighter jets pounded 11 ‘terrorists’ hideouts in Mir Ali subdivision and killed 27 terrorists on Tuesday afternoon.

Before the air strikes in Mir Ali, the ISPR in a statement said 20 terrorists were killed in early morning air strikes on their hideouts in Khyber Agency. It said 12 hideouts of the terrorists were destroyed in the air strikes in Jamrud subdivision of Khyber Agency.

On the other hand, the Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) had registered 454,207 people (36,514 families) displaced from North Waziristan as a result of military operation Out of them, only 18 families had agreed to go to the so-called relief camp the government established for them at a remote and insecure area of Saidgai, located close to North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area.

The lack of basic facilities and its proximity to the volatile tribal region is a major reason the IDPs are reluctant to go there. Even media people and non-government organisations (NGOs) who wanted to help the displaced families are not allowed to go to the camp.

Military officials said three ration distribution points had been established for the IDPs in Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts.They said distribution of 4,473 tons of ration for 40,000 families would start from today (Wednesday).

Our Landikotal correspondent adds: At least 20 suspected militants were killed when jetfighters bombed their hideouts in Tirah valley in Khyber Agency, officials said.

However, the local people said six members of a family, including women and children, were also among the dead.

The ISPR said in a statement that the jetfighters started targeting the hideouts of the militants at around 6:00am in Sverai, Wachy Wany, Tor Darra, Seekh Kot, Sray Khawrey, Serai and surrounding areas in the remote Tirah valley.

However, Kukikhel tribesmen in the area said six members of the family of one Khan Wali were also killed in the bombardment. The dead included three sons, two daughters and wife of Khan Wali. They were laid to rest in Kukikhel area in Tirah.

Meanwhile, a member of the government’s Khassadar force identified as Khan was critically wounded when two persons riding a motorcycle opened fire at him in Shahkas area in Jamrud. The accused fled the scene after committing the crime.The injured man was rushed to Civil Hospital in Jamrud for treatment.

China says 13 attackers killed in Xinjiang assault

BEIJING: Chinese police shot dead 13 people in Xinjiang after they drove into a police building and set off an explosion Saturday, regional authorities said, in the latest attack to hit the restive region.

The vast area in China´s far west, home to the mainly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority, has faced a series of violent attacks in recent years.

Beijing has vowed a year-long crackdown on terrorism in recent weeks following several high-profile attacks blamed on Xinjiang militants, which since late last year struck outside the region and targeted ordinary citizens rather than government or security personnel.

"Today thugs crashed a car into the public security building of Kargilik county in Xinjiang´s Kashgar prefecture and set off an explosion. Police took decisive action and shot dead 13 thugs," the official Xinjiang government website Tianshan reported.

Three police suffered injuries but there were no other casualties, the report said, without providing further details. It was unclear if the attackers used one or more explosive devices.

The state news agency Xinhua described the vehicle as a truck and said the attack happened in the morning, adding that authorities were investigating and "local social order is normal".

China´s most powerful body, the Politburo Standing Committee, said in May that "cracking down on violent terrorist activities must be the focal point of the current struggle", Xinhua reported at the time.

Authorities have announced hundreds of detentions or criminal punishments, including the sentencing of 55 people in late May for offences such as terrorism at a ceremony in a stadium attended by 7,000 people.

This week China executed 13 people for "terrorist attacks" in Xinjiang and ordered the death penalty for three others for a car crash last October in Beijing´s Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of the Chinese state.

In that incident, the first major event blamed on Xinjiang residents to take place outside the region, three family members drove onto the popular tourist area, killing two people and wounding 40 before the car burst into flames and they themselves died.

30 militiamen killed in Iraq clashes: police

BAQUBA: Militants attacked the town of Muqdadiyah northeast of Baghdad on Friday, sparking clashes that killed 30 militiamen, a police colonel and a doctor said.

The fighting began on Friday morning and eased later in the day with security forces still in control of Muqdadiyah, a key approach to Diyala provincial capital Baquba, and militants deployed in adjoining areas.

Militiamen have joined Iraqi security forces in fighting against a major offensive by militants that overran all of one province and chunks of three more in a matter of days.

Security forces performed poorly during the initial days of the assault, in some cases shedding uniforms and abandoning vehicles in their haste to flee.

While they seem to have recovered somewhat from the shock of the onslaught, retaking ground in certain areas, the militants have made gains elsewhere. (AFP)

 

Three US troops killed in Afghanistan explosion

WASHINGTON: Three American soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan on Friday, US defense officials said.

NATO had earlier indicated that the service members -- working under the alliance´s International Security Assistance Force -- and a dog were killed in the Taliban attack in the southern province of Helmand.

12 killed in Nepal landslides: police

KATHMANDU: Landslides triggered by heavy rains killed at least 12 people overnight in Nepal, including nine members of the same family who were buried alive when their home collapsed, eyewitnesses and police said Friday.

Residents of Gulmi district in the west of the country said that the nine family members, including four children, all died when part of a hillside came down on top of their home in a gorge.

In neighbouring Pyuthan district, three people were killed and two others reported missing after a landslide swept away their homes, located on the riverbank, local police official Deepak Regmi said. Scores of people die every year from flooding and landslides during the monsoon season in Nepal.

Zarb-e-Azb: 232 militants killed, 8 security men martyred so far

PESHAWAR: Over 232 militants have been killed during military operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan, Geo News reported.

This was unveiled during a briefing to PM Nawaz Sharif, who visited Corps Headquarters Peshawar here on Friday.

Nawaz Sharif was informed that 232 terrorists have been killed and 20 militant hideouts have been destroyed so far during the operation.

Eight security men were martyred while seven others wounded in Zarb-e-Azb.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Corps Headquarters Peshawar and laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shohada.

PM Nawaz also offered special prayer (Duaa) for the eternal peace of the Shohada (martyrs).

Upon arrival at Corps Headquarters, PM Nawaz was received by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Corps Commander Peshawar Lt. Gen. Khalid Rabbani.

Governor Khyber Pakthunkhwa Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif and Federal Minister for SAFRON also accompanied the Prime Minister.

 

30 militiamen killed in Iraq clashes: police

BAQUBA: Militants attacked the town of Muqdadiyah northeast of Baghdad on Friday, sparking clashes that killed 30 militiamen, a police colonel and a doctor said.

The fighting began on Friday morning and eased later in the day with security forces still in control of Muqdadiyah, a key approach to Diyala provincial capital Baquba, and militants deployed in adjoining areas.

Militiamen have joined Iraqi security forces in fighting against a major offensive by militants that overran all of one province and chunks of three more in a matter of days.

Security forces performed poorly during the initial days of the assault, in some cases shedding uniforms and abandoning vehicles in their haste to flee.

While they seem to have recovered somewhat from the shock of the onslaught, retaking ground in certain areas, the militants have made gains elsewhere. (AFP)

Eight Uzbeks among 23 militants killed in NWA

 

MIRANSHAH: Military authorities on Thursday said that helicopter gunships destroyed militants’ communication centres established on hilltops towards the east of North Waziristan’s headquarters Miranshah.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said 23 militants, eight of them Uzbeks, were killed when the Pakistan Army helicopter gunships pounded their positions on Zartatangi hilltops east of Miranshah.

Tribal sources in Miranshah said they had seen the helicopters targeting the mountains at some distance from the residential area but were unable to confirm the name of the hilltop ‘Zartatangi’ where the ISPR claimed the militants had established communication centres.

Also, the ISPR statement said snipers of the Pakistan Army killed eight Uzbek militants when they were planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the Miranshah-Mir Ali Road on Wednesday night.There was no further detail in the ISPR statement whether the bodies of the slain Uzbek militants were taken away by the militants or were in the possession of security forces.

After the government launched a major military operation codenamed “Zarb-e-Azb” against the local and foreign militants in North Waziristan last Sunday, the Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft and army’s helicopter gunships began pounding the suspected positions of the militants in the tribal region.

It is expected that an extensive ground offensive will be launched in North Waziristan once evacuation of the civilian population is completed. Almost 140,000 persons are reported to have fled North Waziristan and entered Bannu since the launching of the operation.

APP adds from Islamabad: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif visited the Air Headquarters here on Thursday and called on Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt.According to the ISPR, progress of the ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb was reviewed and matters of mutual interest were discussed.NNI adds: Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt welcomed General Raheel Sharif to the Air Headquarters. Both chiefs also agreed on strategies to make the operation more effective.

27 terrorists killed in North Waziristan operation: ISPR

RAWALPINDI: At least 27 terrorists were killed on Monday during operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ as fighter jets destroyed six terrorist hideouts in Shawal, North Waziristan Agency.

A statement released by the ISPR said there was no civilian population in the area. According to the ISPR, the operation on North Waziristan is progressing as per plan. ‘No operation in civil populated areas has been started so far.’

The ISPR says North Waziristan Agency has been isolated by deploying troops along the border with neighbouring agencies and FATA regions to block any move of terrorists in and out of the agency. ‘Troops have cordoned off all terrorist bases including Mirali and Miranshah.

Six Soldiers Martyred

Six security personnel were martyred and three injured in a IED blast targeting their vehicle in North Waziristan Agency.

According to official sources the blast took place in Ghullam Khan on Bangidar road.

Pak-Afghan Border

Security has also been heightened along the Pak-Afghan border to check terrorists fleeing from the area. Afghan National Army and Afghan Border Police have also been requested to seal the border on their side to facilitate elimination of terrorists fleeing across the border. They have also been requested to initiate immediate measures to eliminate TTP terrorists and their sanctuaries in Kunar, Nuristan and other areas of Afghanistan.

IDPs

The ISPR states that an orderly and dignified evacuation of civil population out of North Waziristan Agency is being ensured. Necessary Logistics and administrative arrangements for IDPs have been completed by Political Administration and Disaster Management Agency. Registration points and IDP camps have been established at Bannu.

Operation Aimed At Eliminating Terrorists, Sanctuaries: COAS

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has emphasised that the operation is aimed at eliminating all terrorists and their sanctuaries and ‘get rid of the menace of terrorism.’

Pakistan Army Launches Operation

On Sunday, precise air strikes in Degan-Boya in North Waziristan killed 140 terrorists most of whom were Uzbeks.

The Pakistan army formally announced the start of a full-scale operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ against terrorists in North Waziristan Agency on the directives of the government.

10 killed as stranded Pakistanis’ camp attacked in BD

 

DHAKA: At least 10 people were killed on Saturday in a clash at a stranded Pakistanis refugee camp over firecrackers exploding during a religious event in Bangladesh, police and witnesses said.
The dispute arose after morning prayers at a camp in Mirpur, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka. Using firecrackers during Shab-e-Barat, a Muslim festival, is prohibited in Bangladesh. “Nine people, including two children, were burnt to death after the houses were set on fire during the clashes,” local police official Imtiaz Ahmed told reporters. An angry mob also clashed with police and pelted stones, forcing the security personnel to fire bullets and teargas to disperse them, witnesses said. Another man, who was hit by bullets, died in a hospital and several others were injured, doctors said. An investigation into the clashes has been launched. Thousands of stranded Pakistanis have been living in refugee camps in Bangladesh since the 1971 independence war to break away from Pakistan. They want to go over to Pakistan but Islamabad has refused to take them.

Balochistan MPA Handery Masieh killed in Quetta

QUETTA: Balochistan MPA, Handery Masieh has been killed in an attack on his life here on Saturday.

Masieh’s family said he was attacked by his personal guard. Speaking to media, Masieh’s brother said he was gunned down by his guard outside their residence.

Hospital sources said the MPA was shot in the head and neck. A spokesman for the Balochistan government confirmed that Masieh had been killed by his guard.

Police said Handery Masieh and his nephew were attacked outside his residence. Police have cordoned off the area and started a search operation for the attacker.

The MPA was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the Balochistan government to take immediate action against Handery Masieh’s attackers. He added that the protection of minorities was the responsibility of the federal and provincial governments.

Masieh who was affiliated with the National Party was elected from NM-65 on a reserved seat for minorities.

This is a developing story and further details are awaited.

Nine killed in Ukraine mine blast

KIEV: Nine miners were killed after a gas explosion ripped through an underground coal mine in eastern Ukraine, authorities said on Friday.

The blast happened before dawn on Thursday at a depth of 300 metres (1,000 feet), located in the eastern city of Kirovsk, the State Emergency Service said in a statement.

Accidents are a regular feature at Ukrainian mines, most of which are located in the country´s industrial eastern region, where pro-Russian rebels now control over a dozen towns and cities.

Many of them are underfunded and poorly equipped, and safety violations are rife.

In the worst accident of its kind in the country´s post-Soviet history, more than 100 miners were killed in an explosion in 2007 at the Zasyadko mine, one of the three biggest in Ukraine.