First batch of unit formed to protect Gilgit-Baltistan’s forests, wildlife, graduates 

Passing-out-parade of the first batch of the Forests and Wildlife forces at the Police Training College in Gilgit, Pakistan, on March 9, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Forest and Wildlife Department)
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Updated 10 March 2024
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First batch of unit formed to protect Gilgit-Baltistan’s forests, wildlife, graduates 

  • Fifty members of GB’s Forest and Wildlife Force graduate from Police Training College in Gilgit 
  • Force tasked to stop illegal cutting of trees and transportation of timber, poaching and hunting

KHAPLU: The first batch of a force formed to protect forests and wildlife in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region graduated from a police training college this week, officials confirmed. 

Gilgit-Baltistan, once known as Northern Areas, used to be a part of Jammu and Kashmir, but has been under Pakistani control since shortly after Pakistan’s independence in 1947. Pakistan and India claim all of the disputed Kashmir territory since their independence in 1947 and have fought two of their three wars over the region.

Only one percent of land in GB, which forms Pakistan’s only road link to China, has been used for agriculture, as per the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the GB agriculture department. 

Fifty-two percent of the remaining land, nearly 72,000 square kilometers of administrative territory, consists of rangelands while forests take up four percent. The remaining portion comprises mountains and barren land.

Fifty cadets of GB’s new Forest & Wildlife Force formally graduated during a parade ceremony at the Police Training College in Gilgit on Saturday. 

“There were no proper forces in GB to protect forests and wildlife, and only chowkidars (guards) and forest guards were responsible for protecting the forest and wildlife,” Zafar Waqar Taj, secretary for forests, parks and wildlife in GB, told Arab News over the phone.

Taj said every year, the department aimed to train 200 cadets so that it could get a force of over 800 trained members within the next four years.

“Now with the help of the provincial government, we will raise forces of 850 people [within the next four years] in which forest guards, foresters, range forest officers, game watchers and supervisors will be trained,” Taj said. 

He said members of the unit were taught the criminal procedure code, Forest and Wildlife Act and various wildlife rules. They were also equipped with IT skills and taught how to use weapons, he said. 

“The basic objective of this [unit] is to stop illegal cutting of forest trees, illegal transportation of timber or to stop illegal poaching or hunting,” he said. 

 The mountainous region is also home to various types of animals, which include the Astore Markhor, Ibex Ladakh Urial and the bharal or the blue sheep, famous for trophy hunting.

Demand for wood in Pakistan, a nation of about 241 million people, is three times higher than its potential sustainable supply, according to the most recent National Forest Policy published in 2015.

The country loses an estimated 27,000 hectares (66,700 acres) of trees per year, mainly in private and community-owned natural forests, the policy states.

To halt illegal logging in GB in 2021, Pakistan brought in the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary (FC) force to stop organized groups from cutting trees and shifting them to other parts of the country.

 “Currently four platoons of FC are protecting our forests,” Taj said. “However, after four years, we will get our own trained forces, then we will be in a position to protect the forests and wildlife. Then, the FC will be sent back.” 

Faizullah Faraq, a spokesperson for the GB government, said the unit has been trained by police. 

“Now these trained forces will protect the forest and wildlife of GB in a better way,” Faraq told Arab News. “And protection of the forest and wildlife is the top priority of the GB government.”

Graduates of the program were ecstatic at passing out. 

“The duration of the training was for four months, and today we passed out and we feel very happy now that we are trained,” Khush Hal Khan, a game watcher for the Forests and Wildlife Department, told Arab News.

Nasrullah, another participant who identified himself by his first name only, told Arab News he was “very happy” to be a part of the new force.

“Earlier, we didn’t know how to use a weapon,” Nasrullah told Arab News. “Now, after this training, we know how to use it. So, we will perform our duties vigilantly,” he added. 
 


Pakistani generals link Kashmir attack to India’s ‘governance failures,’ vow to defend sovereignty

Updated 11 sec ago
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Pakistani generals link Kashmir attack to India’s ‘governance failures,’ vow to defend sovereignty

  • Army says India uses such incidents for political gains like suspending Indus Waters Treaty
  • The generals says the Pahalgam attack was to help ‘Indian terror proxies’ targeting Pakistan

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top generals on Friday blamed last month’s tourist shootings in Indian-administered Kashmir on New Delhi’s “governance failures” and its strategy of using such incidents for political gain, while warning Pakistani security forces were ready to respond to any attack on the country’s sovereignty, according to an official statement.
India blamed Pakistan for the April 22 attack in the scenic town of Pahalgam, in Kashmir’s Anantnag district, where gunmen killed 26 people in one of the deadliest assaults on civilians in nearly two decades.
Pakistan denied involvement, though tensions escalated as India expelled Pakistani diplomats and nationals, closed a key border crossing and suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which has governed the distribution of river waters between the two countries since 1960.
Pakistan’s top general gathered at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi earlier today to review the geo-strategic environment, with particular focus on the Pakistan-India standoff and the broader regional security situation, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said.
“The Forum noted, with serious concern, India’s consistent pattern of exploitation of crises to achieve political and military objectives,” the ISPR said. “They have been following a predictable template — whereby internal governance failures are externalized.”
“These incidents have often coincided with unilateral moves by India to alter the status quo, as seen in 2019 when India similarly exploited the Pulwama incident to unilaterally alter the status quo of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir, through revocation of Article 370,” it added.
The 2019 Pulwama attack killed 40 Indian paramilitary personnel and was also blamed on Pakistan before New Delhi revoked the region’s special constitutional status to integrate it in the Indian union, a move repeatedly condemned by Islamabad.
The generals expressed concern that India was now using the Pahalgam shootings to undermine the IWT and “usurp Pakistan’s legitimate and inalienable water rights.”
The statement called the move a dangerous attempt to “weaponize water,” threatening the livelihoods of more than 240 million Pakistanis and increasing strategic instability in South Asia.
The commanders also voiced alarm over what they described as credible evidence of Indian military and intelligence involvement in orchestrating militant violence inside Pakistan.
They accused New Delhi of using the Kashmir attack to divert attention from its own domestic challenges and to provide “operational breathing space” to what they called “Indian terror proxies” targeting Pakistan.
While reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability, the generals warned that any attempt to impose conflict would be met with a “sure and decisive” response.
Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir praised the operational readiness and morale of Pakistan’s armed forces and emphasized the need for vigilance and proactive readiness across all fronts.
“Deliberate destabilization efforts by the Indian government will be confronted and defeated with resolve and clarity,” the ISPR said.


US vice president hopes Kashmir attack won’t spark wider conflict

Updated 02 May 2025
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US vice president hopes Kashmir attack won’t spark wider conflict

  • JD Vance says Pakistan should deal with militants that ‘sometimes operate’ in its territory
  • US has expressed support for India after the April 22 attack without directly blaming Pakistan

WASHINGTON: US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday Washington hoped Pakistan would cooperate with India to hunt down Pakistan-based militants, and that India’s response to the recent Islamist militant attack in India-administered Kashmir does not lead to a broader regional conflict.
“Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” Vance said in an interview on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” show.
“And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they’re responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with,” Vance added.
Vance’s comments are the closest the US government has come since the April 22 attack — in which 26 people were killed — to potentially linking Pakistan to extremism in India.
Top US leaders, including President Donald Trump, have condemned the attack, calling it “terror” and “unconscionable,” while expressing support for India without directly blaming Pakistan.
India is an important US partner as Washington aims to counter China’s rising influence. Pakistan remains Washington’s ally even as its importance diminished after the 2021 US withdrawal from neighboring Afghanistan.
In recent days, Washington urged India and Pakistan to work with each other to de-escalate tensions and arrive at a “responsible solution.”
India has blamed Pakistan for the attack. Islamabad denies responsibility and is calling for a neutral probe.
The US State Department has said it was in touch with the nuclear-armed Asian neighbors at multiple levels and Secretary of State Marco Rubio held calls on Wednesday with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Hindu nationalist Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to punish those responsible and Jaishankar has told Rubio that the perpetrators should be brought to justice. Pakistan says military action by India was imminent.
Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan, with each controlling only part of it and having fought wars over it.
After the attack, India suspended a treaty regulating water-sharing, and both countries closed airspace to each other’s airlines. They also exchanged fire across their border.


Pakistan seeks Saudi, UAE and Kuwaiti mediation to de-escalate tensions with India

Updated 02 May 2025
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Pakistan seeks Saudi, UAE and Kuwaiti mediation to de-escalate tensions with India

  • PM Sharif says it’s inconceivable Pakistan will jeopardize its achievements by backing militant attacks
  • He maintains that his country will never take any action that could ‘imperil regional peace and security’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday sought the assistance of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait in de-escalating tensions with India over an attack that killed 26 tourists in the disputed Kashmir region, his office said.
New Delhi has accused Pakistan of backing one of the deadliest attacks in Indian-administered Kashmir in decades, though Islamabad has denied the allegation and suggested a neutral and credible international probe. The two nuclear-armed neighbors have also exchanged gunfire, traded diplomatic barbs, expelled each other’s citizens and closed their border as part of a series of punitive and reciprocal measures.
Sharif met with Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi and Kuwaiti Ambassador Nasser Abdulrahman Jasser during the day amid growing concerns of a wider regional conflict following potential Indian actions in response to the Pahalgam attack.
Sharif shared Pakistan’s perspective on recent developments in South Asia following the Kashmir incident, highlighting that his country has made significant sacrifices in its counter-terrorism efforts over the years, not only to safeguard itself but also to contribute to global security. He also rejected the “baseless Indian accusations” linking Islamabad to the April 22 attack.
“The prime minister said it was inconceivable for Pakistan to act in an irresponsible manner to jeopardize its achievements and derail the country from the path of economic progress,” the PM Office said in a statement. “He urged brotherly countries, including Saudi Arabia, to impress upon India to de-escalate and defuse tensions. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for peace and stability in South Asia.”
During his conversation with the Middle Eastern envoys, the Pakistan premier reiterated his call for a transparent and neutral international investigation into the April 22 incident.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets UAE Ambassador Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi at the Prime Minister Office in Islamabad on May 2, 2025. (Photo courtesy: Handout/PMO)

He highlighted how Pakistan has been the biggest victim of militant violence and suffered 90,000 casualties with over $152 billion in economic losses.
Sharif said Pakistan would never take any action that could “imperil regional peace and security,” highlighting that his government was focused on consolidating the hard-earned economic gains of the past fifteen months that were achieved with the support of friendly countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

PM Sharif meets Kuwaiti ambassador, Nasser Abdulrahman Jasser, at the Prime Minister Office in Islamabad on May 2, 2025. (Photo courtesy: Handout/PMO)

The Saudi, UAE and Kuwaiti ambassadors thanked Sharif for sharing Pakistan’s stance and reaffirmed their support for maintaining regional peace and security, the PM Office added.
Since last week, top Pakistani leaders have also reached out to senior officials in China, Iran, Egypt and other countries regarding the recent South Asian developments.
The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir is split between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety. The two countries have fought two wars and one limited conflict over the territory.
The United Nations has urged the two arch-rivals to talk to each other, while China, which shares a border with both India and Pakistan, and other countries have called on both sides to “exercise restraint.”


Pakistan stocks rebound as investor confidence steadies amid calls to ease India tensions

Updated 02 May 2025
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Pakistan stocks rebound as investor confidence steadies amid calls to ease India tensions

  • Tensions with India flared after New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing the April 22 Kashmir attack that killed 26
  • Analysts say weekend diplomacy and regional signals will determine if Friday’s market gains hold next week

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) bounced back strongly on Friday as investor confidence returned amid calls from the United States and the United Nations for de-escalation of India-Pakistan tensions over Kashmir, traders and analysts said, with the market gaining more than 2,500 points during the intraday trade.
Relations between the neighbors have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing an attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists on April 22. Islamabad denies the accusation.
The benchmark KSE-100 index gained 2,787.36 points, or 2.5 percent and closed at 114,113.93 on Friday, compared to the previous day’s close of 111,326.57 points.
Stock analysts attributed the bullish sentiment to calls from the UN, US and other countries to de-escalate tensions between the two countries and offers to mediate the crisis.
“Stocks showed sharp recovery after the US and the UN urged Pakistan and India to defuse tensions,” Ahsan Mehanti, CEO of Arif Habib Group, told Arab News.
“Reports of 0.3 percent year-on-year Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for April 25 likely to further ease SBP [State Bank of Pakistan] policy and expected receipt of IMF tranche [of $1 billion] this month played catalyst role in record bullish activity at PSX.”
Pakistan is currently navigating an economic recovery program under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program.
But tensions with India over Kashmir saw the Pakistani stock market shedding over 3,500 points on Wednesday. The US State Department said it was in contact with India and Pakistan, while State Secretary Marco Rubio on Wednesday held telephonic conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in a bid to ease tensions.
The UN has urged the arch-rivals to talk, while China, which shares its border with both India and Pakistan, this week repeated its call on both sides to “exercise restraint.”
Saudi Arabia has said Riyadh is trying to “prevent an escalation,” while Iran has offered to mediate the crisis.
“The developments over the weekend are likely to be closely watched and will dictate whether today’s bounce spills over into next week also,” Raza Jafri, head of research at Intermarket Securities, told Arab News.


Pakistan foils bid to smuggle donkey hides worth Rs80 million to China

Updated 02 May 2025
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Pakistan foils bid to smuggle donkey hides worth Rs80 million to China

  • Pakistan is frequently listed as one of the countries with highest number of donkey populations worldwide
  • The animal’s meat and hide, used in the Ejiao traditional medicinal remedy, are quite popular in China

KARACHI: Pakistan Customs has foiled an attempt to smuggle donkey hides, worth around Rs80 million ($283,862), to China, a customs spokesperson said on Friday.
The staff deployed on the Risk Management Profiling System of the Karachi customs collectorate detected a container number SEGU-3154225 cleared from the South Asia Pakistan Port (SAPT) terminal in Karachi, whose export documents showed 285 packages of leather products were being sent to China by Messrs. Wow Trading.
The container was allowed to be loaded on a ship after the export collectorate issued a permit, but customs authorities conducted a detailed inspection after being informed by the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) staff and found the prohibited donkey hides in the container.
“[The inspection] resulted in the recovery of 14,000 kilograms of prohibited donkey hides, declared under the guise of leather products, in the container, the export of which is prohibited under the export policy of the Government of Pakistan,” Irfan Ali, a customs spokesperson, said in a statement.
“A case has been registered against the exporter under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act. Further investigation is underway.”
Pakistan is frequently listed as one of the countries with the highest number of donkey populations worldwide, with Islamabad reporting its donkey population had increased to 5.9 million during the fiscal year 2023-24 from 5.5 million in 2019-2020, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey (PES) 2023-24.
The animal’s meat and hides are quite popular in China. Gelatin derived from donkey hides is highly sought after in China for its use in Ejiao, a traditional medicinal remedy. Several Chinese eateries sell donkey meat and burgers for consumption.
The seizure of donkey hides comes amid a Pakistani government crackdown on smuggling of various goods.
“Karachi Customs Enforcement Collector Moinuddin Wani appreciated and praised the performance of the officers and staff of the enforcement collectorate for this successful operation,” Ali added.