QUETTA: Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson on Thursday rejected reports that Islamabad and Tehran launched a joint military operation in the country’s southwestern border area this week to kill 12 militants, describing it as “fake news” despite a banned militant group claiming the action took place.
The spokesperson’s remarks followed militant outfit Jaish Al-Adl’s statement this week in which it claimed Pakistan and Iran’s forces on Tuesday carried out airstrikes against its fighters in the Iranian border city of Saravan, near Pakistan’s Panjgur district in Balochistan. It said the strikes killed 12 of its members and injured four others.
Iranian rights organization Halvash had also confirmed the development on social media platform X.
“First, I would like to state that this information is not correct. This is fake news,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson, said during her weekly press briefing.
“Statement by terror groups should not be taken seriously.”
Baloch, however, confirmed Pakistani security forces had conducted an operation west of Panjgur to root out smugglers in southwestern Balochistan province.
“The operation took place 30 kilometers within our territory against smugglers, and this was undertaken by Pakistani security forces alone,” she disclosed.
Balochistan Levies, a paramilitary force responsible for law and order in the restive province, confirmed they received reports of an attack in Koh e Sabz area located 70 kilometers from Panjgur city on Tuesday.
“Three people were injured in the attack but we don’t know who carried out the attack in the remotest bordering area,” Shakeel Ahmed, a Levies soldier in Panjgur, told Arab News.
Ahmed said the paramilitary force did not know how many people were killed in the attack since Levies did not receive any bodies in Panjgur.
A local journalist in Panjgur said three persons injured in the alleged attack on Tuesday belonged to Peshawar, Karachi and Washuk cities of Pakistan. He said they were brought to Panjgur for medical treatment.
“The government officials in the district did not confirm the attack yet,” he told Arab News, speaking on condition of anonymity.
HISTORY OF ROCKY RELATIONS
Pakistan and Iran have had a history of rocky relations despite a number of commercial pacts between the two countries, with Islamabad being historically closer to Washington.
One of Iran’s poorest regions, Sistan-Baluchestan on the border with Pakistan has long been plagued by unrest involving drug-smuggling gangs, rebels from the Baloch minority and religiously motivated militants.
Jaish Al-Adl or “Army of Justice” has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Iranian forces in Sistan and Baluchestan over the years, straining ties between the two Muslim-majority countries.
Pakistan and Iran came to the brink of war in January this year after both countries launched cross-border strikes against armed groups and their hideouts operating in border villages.
Regarding this week’s visit by Iran’s foreign minister to Islamabad, Baloch said both sides had agreed to strengthen coordination on border areas.
“Both sides agreed that we will cooperate to ensure that the border between Pakistan and Iran will be a border of peace and amity, and we will strengthen coordination on all aspects of border security,” she said.
Pakistan rejects reports of joint military operation with Iran against Baloch militant group
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Pakistan rejects reports of joint military operation with Iran against Baloch militant group
- Militant outfit Jaish Al-Adl claimed Pakistani, Iranian forces killed 12 of its members in joint operation in Saravan on Tuesday
- Pakistani security forces conducted operation alone within its territory this week against smugglers, says FO spokesperson
Pakistan army chief vows retribution as 13 soldiers killed in militant attack in northwest
- Armed forces say 14 militants were killed in a firefight during a clearance operation after the convoy attack
- Field Marshal Asim Munir vows to avenge innocent Pakistani lives and respond swiftly to militant violence
KARACHI: Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, on Saturday vowed retribution after 13 soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing on an armed forces convoy in the country’s northwestern tribal belt, in one of the deadliest attacks on security personnel in recent months.
The military said the convoy was targeted in Mir Ali, a town in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into one of the lead vehicles after a failed attempt by a suicide bomber to detonate earlier.
Three civilians, including two children and a woman, were also injured in the blast.
Militant violence has surged in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in recent years, particularly in the tribal region, where attacks have targeted soldiers, police, government officials and civilian residents.
Saturday’s assault marked one of the highest single-day tolls for security forces this year. The military said it was followed by the killing of 14 militants in a firefight during a clearance operation launched by the security forces.
“Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir … visited Corps Headquarters Peshawar today, where he was briefed in detail on the prevailing security situation and ongoing counter-terrorism operations,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement. “During the visit, the Field Marshal also attended funeral of Shuhada [martyrs] of the incident at Bannu Garrison and visited the injured at Bannu CMH [Combined Military Hospital].”
“Reiterating the state’s uncompromising stance, the Chief of Army Staff vowed that all facilitators, abettors, and perpetrators of terrorism will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice— without exception and at all costs, and the face of true perpetrator of terrorism in the region will be exposed to the entire world,” the statement added.
Most militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been claimed by fighters belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group of armed factions that the Pakistani state refers to as khawarij — a term rooted in Islamic history used to describe a violent extremist sect that rebelled against authority and declared other Muslims as apostates.
The army described the assault as a “cowardly attack planned and orchestrated by the terrorist state of India” and executed by its “proxy Fitna Al-Khawarij.”
It said Pakistani forces intercepted the initial suicide bomber, but the attackers rammed a second explosive-laden vehicle into the convoy, killing 13 soldiers.
“The blood of every innocent Pakistani shall always be avenged,” the ISPR quoted the army chief as saying. “Any attempt to undermine Pakistan’s internal stability will be met with swift and decisive retribution.”
He also called for increased institutional support for civilian law enforcement agencies, particularly the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, urging government stakeholders to prioritize capacity enhancement while reaffirming the army’s commitment to assist.
In a separate statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, offering prayers for the fallen soldiers and condolences to their families. He praised the security forces for their response, including the killing of 14 militants, and said the entire nation saluted its martyrs.
“We are determined to eliminate every form of terrorism from the country,” Sharif said.
Pakistan plans to finalize Roosevelt Hotel privatization structure at next cabinet committee meeting
Pakistan plans to finalize Roosevelt Hotel privatization structure at next cabinet committee meeting
- Privatization Commission denies reports claiming a $100 million base price has been set for the hotel
- It points out the deal’s value will depend on the government-approved transaction structure, final terms
KARACHI: Pakistan is expected to finalize the transaction structure for the privatization of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York at the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatization, the government said in a statement on Saturday.
Located in Midtown Manhattan, the hotel is owned by Pakistan International Airlines Investment Limited (PIAIL) and occupies a full city block on Madison Avenue and 45th Street. It has also remained one of Pakistan’s most high-profile yet politically sensitive overseas assets.
“The base price and expected proceeds from the privatization of the Roosevelt Hotel will depend on the transaction structure and final terms approved by the government,” the Privatization Commission said in an official handout. “The transaction structure is expected to be finalized at the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatization.”
The statement informed no base price had yet been set for the property, rebutting some local media reports that claimed the government had fixed a $100 million floor.
It also pointed out such a value could only be determined at the time of bidding, adding that the deal’s potential value would depend on the transaction structure and final terms approved by the cabinet committee.
Over the past two decades, successive Pakistani governments have floated plans to sell, lease or redevelop the property, but no proposal has advanced beyond early-stage planning.
Earlier this month, Muhammad Ali, the prime minister’s adviser on privatization, told Arab News that the government had completed the hotel’s baseline valuation and appointed US-based consultancy JLL to conduct market sounding.
“We just need to get approval from the cabinet committee on the structure, and we’ll move ahead,” he said.
Pakistan tops global emerging market rankings in sovereign risk improvement — Bloomberg Intelligence
Pakistan tops global emerging market rankings in sovereign risk improvement — Bloomberg Intelligence
- Government calls the development ‘a resounding signal’ to investors about Pakistan’s improving economy
- It attributes the new outlook to economic stabilization, structural reforms and successful IMF engagement
KARACHI: Pakistan has recorded the world’s sharpest decline in sovereign default risk over the past year, topping Bloomberg Intelligence’s Global Emerging Market (EM) Rankings for credit risk improvement, according to new data cited by a senior finance official on Saturday.
The data, published by Bloomberg’s research arm, showed that Pakistan’s credit default swap-implied probability of default fell from 59 percent to 47 percent over the past 12 months, a drop of 11 percentage points. The change marks the biggest reduction among tracked emerging markets, outpacing countries like Argentina, Tunisia and Nigeria, as default risk rose in others such as Egypt, Gabon and Turkiye.
Credit default swaps (CDS) are insurance-like financial contracts that allow investors to hedge against the risk of a government failing to repay its debt. Issued and traded by large financial institutions, these contracts pay out in the event of a default. The higher the cost of a CDS, the greater the perceived risk. Bloomberg Intelligence uses CDS pricing to assess a country’s sovereign risk in its Global EM Rankings.
“Pakistan stands out globally as the most improved economy in terms of reduction in sovereign default risk,” said Khurram Schehzad, adviser to the finance minister, in a social media post. “This is a resounding signal to global investors: Pakistan is not only back on the map— it is moving forward with stability, credibility, and reform at its core,” he added.
Bloomberg Intelligence is a highly regarded financial data and media company widely used by global investors, analysts and institutions.
The improvement in Pakistan’s risk profile comes after the South Asian nation narrowly avoided a sovereign default in 2023. With dwindling reserves and mounting debt repayments, Islamabad secured a short-term bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the support of key allies including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and China.
Since then, Pakistan has undertaken a series of IMF-recommended structural reforms and fiscal adjustments aimed at stabilizing the economy.
Credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s and Fitch have acknowledged the progress with improved outlooks, while the government has prioritized timely debt servicing and macroeconomic discipline.
Schehzad attributed the improved outlook to “macroeconomic stabilization, structural reforms, successful IMF engagement and timely debt repayments,” noting that investor confidence had begun to return.
Rains and floods kill 19 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 12 in Punjab as extreme weather hits Pakistan
- Authorities in KP call Swat the most affected district where 13 people lost their lives in flash floods
- The Met Office warns the risk of heavy rains and floods remains high until the middle of the next week
PESHAWAR/KARACHI: At least 19 people have been killed and six injured in the past 48 hours in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province while heavy rains claimed another 12 lives in the most populous Punjab province, provincial disaster authorities said on Saturday.
KP’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said that a total of 56 houses had been damaged in the region — 50 partially and six completely — while rain-related incidents were reported from various districts including Swat, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Malakand, Shangla, Lower Dir and Torghar.
“In the past 48 hours, rain, strong winds, flash floods and landslides in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have resulted in the deaths of 19 people and injuries to 6 others,” the PDMA said in a statement.
“The most affected district was Swat, where 13 people died and six others were injured,” it added.
The overall casualties in the province included six men, five women and eight children.
Local administrations have been instructed to provide immediate relief to affected families and ensure medical care for the injured.
The ongoing spell of rains, which began on June 25, has also claimed 12 lives in Punjab, the country’s most populous province, and caused delays in railway operations in the southern Sindh province.
“Twelve people died and 39 were injured in various accidents,” the Punjab PDMA said in a statement. “Majority of deaths were caused by the collapse of roofs and walls.”
Punjab PDMA chief Irfan Ali Kathia urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and not to stay in dilapidated homes during bad weather.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that the risk of heavy rains and possible flash floods will remain high until at least Tuesday.
Babar Raza, a spokesperson for Pakistan Railways, told Arab News the weather had affected the railway signaling system, while the speed of trains had been reduced for safety reasons.
“As a result, some trains are reaching their destinations with a delay of three to four hours,” he said. “No trains have been canceled so far.”
Pakistan, home to over 240 million people, is considered one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change and faces extreme weather events with increasing frequency.
Last month, at least 24 people were killed in severe storms across the country, which has already experienced multiple extreme weather incidents this year, including hailstorms and spring downpours.
Pakistan arrests two for defrauding citizens with fake jobs in Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom
- The suspects arrested in the Pakistani city of Multan have been accused of human smuggling
- The Federal Investigation Agency says both men extorted money and were involved in visa fraud
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have arrested two men accused of human smuggling after they defrauded citizens with false promises of jobs in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, officials said on Saturday, as the country intensifies its crackdown on trafficking networks following a series of deadly migrant boat disasters.
The arrests, made by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Multan, come amid Pakistan’s broader campaign to curb human smuggling. The issue has drawn significant attention following recent tragedies in the Mediterranean, including shipwrecks off Greece, Libya and Morocco involving scores of Pakistani nationals.
“The accused, Muhammad Muzammil and Sher Khan, extorted large sums of money from citizens by falsely promising overseas employment opportunities,” the FIA said in a statement. “Muzammil took Rs852,000 [$2,982] from a victim under the pretense of securing a job in Saudi Arabia, while Sher Khan collected Rs2 million [$7,000] by offering fake employment in the UK,” it continued. “Both failed to deliver and went into hiding after collecting the money.”
The statement noted that the suspects were also involved in visa fraud.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to crack down on the criminal networks exploiting vulnerable people with false hopes of better lives abroad. His administration began focusing on the issue after more than 200 Pakistanis were presumed dead in a shipwreck off Greece among hundreds of other illegal migrants trying to reach European shores.
Earlier this year, over 40 Pakistanis were feared drowned near Morocco’s coast, while the International Organization for Migration said at least 60 migrants, including Pakistanis, were feared dead after a pair of shipwrecks off the coast of Libya in June.
The FIA said on Saturday that both suspects were arrested from separate locations in Multan and have been taken into custody for further investigation. It added that its crackdown on human smugglers remains ongoing.
