Two people killed in magnetic bomb attack in Pakistan’s southwest

Security personnel examine the blast site near a checkpoint in the southwestern city of Quetta, Pakistan, on September 5, 2021. (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 March 2023
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Two people killed in magnetic bomb attack in Pakistan’s southwest

  • No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack which took place in Khuzdar
  • Doctors say the attack injured seven people and left one of them in serious condition

QUETTA: Two civilians were killed while seven others injured after a magnetic improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district on Tuesday, said a senior police official.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack which targeted ordinary people in the restive southwestern province that shares a porous border with Iran and Afghanistan.

“Some unidentified individuals attached a magnetic IED to a private vehicle which exploded in Khuzdar city,” Fahad Khan Khoso, senior superintendent of police deployed in the area, told Arab News. “Two civilians were killed and seven injured in the attack.”

He described the incident as a “targeted attack,” adding the police had increased security in the area to hunt down militants behind the blast.

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province in terms of landmass and has witnessed separatist and sectarian violence which has claimed hundreds of lives in the last two decades.

Several armed groups in the region have carried out similar attacks against politicians and tribal elders in the past. Last month, two police officials were killed after a magnetic bomb attached to their car blew up in the same district.

“The government will prevent the conspiracy of terrorists who want to disturb Balochistan's peace and stability,” Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo said in a statement.

He asked the authorities to take effective security measures against militant factions operating in Khuzdar while pointing out that the nation would have to unit and collectively fight the menace of militancy.

Tuesday’s attack was the second blast in the province within a span of a few days. Two private guards of a local tribesman, Sardar Khan Rind, were killed in a targeted IED attack in Kachi district on March 12.

The medical superintendent of the District Headquarters Hospital, Dr. Saeed Ahmed, said an injured person had been referred to Karachi since he had received critical wounds.

“Six people had minor injuries while one was brought here in serious condition with major wounds to one of his arms,” he told Arab News. “We shifted him to Karachi since there was no surgeon here who could provide him the required medical treatment.”


Pakistan and UK discuss security cooperation, adopting joint strategy against ‘terrorism’

Updated 11 sec ago
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Pakistan and UK discuss security cooperation, adopting joint strategy against ‘terrorism’

  • Pakistan PM’s adviser Rana Sanaullah meets British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, says state media 
  • Both discuss reinforcing intelligence sharing and operational cooperation in counter terrorism efforts

ISLAMABAD: Rana Sanaullah, adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, met British High Commissioner Jane Marriott on Thursday to discuss enhancing security cooperation between the two countries and adopting a joint strategy against “terrorism,” state-run media reported.

Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) share a long-standing relationship built on strong diplomatic, economic and security ties. Over the years, the militaries of both countries have maintained robust cooperation, particularly in the fields of counterterrorism and professional training.

The meeting between the two officials took place amid Pakistan’s struggle to contain surging militancy, particularly in its southwestern Balochistan province, where separatist militants last week hijacked a train and held hundreds hostage before the army launched a rescue operation. The military said it killed all 33 militants while 31 Pakistani soldiers, staff and civilians were killed. 

“The discussion also focused on adopting a joint strategy against terrorism, increasing security cooperation, and taking collaborative measures to ensure regional peace and stability,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported about the meeting between Sanaullah and Marriott.

“Both dignitaries agreed on reinforcing intelligence sharing and operational cooperation in counter terrorism efforts.”

The APP said both also spoke about strengthening economic partnerships, enhancing trade relations and exploring new avenues of mutual cooperation between Pakistan and the UK.

“Additionally, cultural exchanges and the promotion of people-to-people ties were discussed to further strengthen relations between the two nations,” the statement said. 

Pakistan and the UK have a long and multifaceted relationship, with the latter hosting a large Pakistani diaspora community. Pakistan is also a member of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 countries out of which the vast majority are former British territories.


Former Pakistan coach Bradburn fined after discriminatory conduct during Glamorgan stint 

Updated 27 min 40 sec ago
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Former Pakistan coach Bradburn fined after discriminatory conduct during Glamorgan stint 

  • Bradburn was sacked by Glamorgan in December following internal investigation into his behavior
  • Bradburn allegedly asked players from Asian background what their “real age” was, implying they lied

LONDON: Former Glamorgan coach Grant Bradburn has been fined and warned about his future conduct after admitting to discriminatory conduct during his spell with the Welsh county cricket side.
Bradburn was sacked by Glamorgan in December following an internal investigation into the New Zealander’s behavior.
A Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) found the former Scotland and Pakistan coach twice made comments with “racist connotations” and also made a remark with “sexist connotations.”
The 58-year-old has been ordered to attend an educational course and fined £500 ($648), in addition to the reprimand.
In its written reasons for the sanction, the CDC said it was alleged Bradburn asked players from an Asian background what their “real age” was, implying they do not tell the truth about their age.
It was also alleged he said during a pre-season team meeting that when making cricket selection decisions in Pakistan, players would pick their friends or cousins or pick names out of a hat.
Bradburn allegedly used the phrase “this isn’t Western Storm” (a former women’s team) during a fielding practice session when he considered that male players were demonstrating a lack of intensity, “throwing like girls.”
Bradburn, a former New Zealand off-spinner, coached Scotland from 2014 to 2018.
He worked as Pakistan’s fielding coach, subsequently taking over as head coach in 2023 — a role he left after less than a year, prior to joining Glamorgan in January 2024.


At least 1,141 Pakistanis killed and injured due to ‘terrorism’ from Jan. 1 to Mar.16— minister 

Updated 36 min 3 sec ago
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At least 1,141 Pakistanis killed and injured due to ‘terrorism’ from Jan. 1 to Mar.16— minister 

  • Tallal Chaudry says three law enforcement personnel, two civilians are killed daily across Pakistan due to “terrorism”
  • Minister of state for interior urges opposition to support government in its war against surging militancy in country 

ISLAMABAD: At least 1,141 Pakistanis have been killed and injured from Jan. 1 to Mar. 16 in “terrorism” incidents, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudry said on Thursday, urging provinces to support the central government in its battle against militants. 

Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan and Iran in recent days, especially Balochistan, where separatist militants last Tuesday stormed a train and held hundreds of passengers hostage before the army launched a rescue operation. The army killed all 33 militants while a final count showed 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers had died in the attack.

Days later on Sunday, five people including three paramilitary soldiers were killed in a blast in Balochistan’s Nushki district. A top parliamentary panel met on Tuesday to discuss the prevalent security situation in the country, calling for national consensus and political unity to battle militancy. 

“From the previous [month], Jan. 1 to Mar. 16, the figures say that 1,141 casualties of terrorism have taken place. This includes both the martyred and the injured,” Chaudry said during a news conference. “Out of this, 1,127 alone are from KP and Balochistan.”

He said on a daily basis, three law enforcement agencies’ personnel are killed and seven are injured while two civilians are killed and four injured across Pakistan. 

The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is in power in KP province, boycotted the parliamentary panel on national security’s meeting this week and said it would not support any fresh military operation in the country. 

Chaudry criticized the PTI, saying that it would not be possible to eliminate “terrorism” from the country if both KP and Balochistan provinces did not join the state in battling militants. The minister blamed the PTI for creating controversies to undermine Pakistan’s war against militancy. 

“We are not starting a new operation neither has there been talk of a new operation,” Chaudry clarified. “But whether it is Azm-e-Istehkam or the National Action Plan, they will be implemented, and it will be ensured that they are implemented,” he said, referring to Pakistan’s previous initiatives against militancy. 

Pakistan ranks as the second-most affected country by terrorism, according to The Global Terrorism Index 2025. Militancy-related deaths surged by 45 percent, rising from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024, marking one of the steepest global increases.

Pakistan’s security forces are battling the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Pakistani Taliban militants in KP province. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering TTP militants, an allegation the Afghan Taliban deny strongly.

In Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by land but its poorest by almost all social and economic indicators, separatist militants have been fighting security forces for decades for a greater share in the natural resources of the province. Pakistan’s federal government and military point to various education and health initiatives undertaken in Balochistan, reiterating their resolve to bring about progress in the province. 


Pakistan to hold Mar. 23 military parade on ‘limited scale’ due to Ramadan

Updated 20 March 2025
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Pakistan to hold Mar. 23 military parade on ‘limited scale’ due to Ramadan

  • Parade will mark 85th anniversary of Pakistan’s republic day celebrated each year on Mar. 23 to celebrate adoption of Lahore Resolution
  • Pakistan honors foreign dignitaries, national heroes with top civilian awards, features tanks, missiles, UAVs, and air defense systems at parade

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Day military parade will be held this year on Mar. 23 on a “limited scale” due to the holy month of Ramadan, state-run media reported on Thursday, with contingents of the country’s three armed forces set to participate in the spectacle. 
The parade will be held on the 85th anniversary of Pakistan’s republic day, marked each year to celebrate the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the Muslim League party, which called for the creation of an independent state for the Muslims of India on Mar. 23, 1940.
While last year the event was held at the Parade Avenue in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, this year it is scheduled to take place within the premises of the Aiwan-e-Sadr or the official residence of Pakistan’s president. President Asif Ali Zardari will be the chief guest on the occasion, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said. 
“Pakistan Day Parade will be held on Sunday on a limited scale with traditional enthusiasm,” it said. “The decision to hold the parade on a limited scale was made due to the month of Ramadan,” Radio Pakistan said. 
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets will also conduct a fly past, a ceremonial or honorific flight by an aircraft or group of aircraft, during the occasion. 
“Foreign ambassadors and other distinguished guests have also been invited to the event,” the state media reported. 
Pakistan honors foreign dignitaries and national heroes on the occasion with top civilian awards. The parade also features mechanized columns including tanks, armored personnel carriers, rocket launchers, air defense system, guns, UAVs, short-and-long-range Pakistani missiles such as Ra’ad, Nasr, Babur, Shaheen, Ghauri and Ababeel every year. 
This year the military parade takes place as Pakistan grapples with surging militancy, especially in its southwestern Balochistan province bordering Iran and Afghanistan. Separatist militants last Tuesday bombed a section of the railway track and stormed the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express train carrying over 400 passengers in the mountainous Bolan region. 
The crisis was resolved the following day when the armed forces carried out a successful operation to rescue the hostages, killing all 33 militants in the process. A final count showed 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers had died in the attack.
Violence persisted in the region days later as a blast killed five, including three paramilitary soldiers, in the province’s Nushki district on Sunday. 
Both attacks were claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic separatist militant outfit in the province. The BLA is the largest and strongest of several ethnic Baloch insurgent groups which have been fighting for decades to win a larger share of the natural resources of mineral-rich Balochistan, which is also home to major China-led projects including a port and gold and copper mines.
 


Pakistan stocks hit new high in intraday trading on investor confidence, IMF review optimism 

Updated 20 March 2025
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Pakistan stocks hit new high in intraday trading on investor confidence, IMF review optimism 

  • Benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 1,215.46 points, or 1.03 percent, to reach 119,189.48 
  • Index eventually settled at 118,769.77, up by 795.75 or 0.67 percent, from the previous close 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) crossed the 119,000-point threshold in intraday trading for the first time, largely driven by aggressive buying from local mutual funds and confidence over a positive review of an International Monetary Fund bailout program, a top brokerage house said.

The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 1,215.46 points, or 1.03 percent, to reach 119,189.48 from the last close of 117,974.02 at 9:43am. The index settled at 118,769.77, up by 795.75 or 0.67 percent, from the previous close. 

“This strong upward movement was largely driven by aggressive buying from local mutual funds, as investor confidence remained high on expectations of an imminent IMF review, which might be completed earlier than expected,” Topline Securities said in its daily market review.

Market activity remained robust, with 666 million shares traded, amounting to a turnover of Rs38.5 billion. Cnergyico Pk Ltd. oil refining company led the volume charts, with 163.9 million shares changing hands.

“The positive trajectory in the Pakistan Stock Exchange signifies the increasing trust of traders and investors in the government’s economic policies,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in statement.

“The government is providing all necessary facilities on a priority basis to ensure a conducive environment for business and investment in the country.”

Earlier this month, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) team concluded its first review of Pakistan’s economic reforms under a $7 billion loan program, describing Pakistan’s progress as “strong,” though the mission departed without finalizing a staff-level agreement.