Pakistan: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

Two persons, including one Police Constable and a terrorist were killed during a clash between terrorist and Police when former attacked a Police checkpost in the Shahbaz Khel area of Lakki Marwat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 1, reports Dawn. “The terrorists attacked the police [checkpost] with heavy and automatic weapons and tried to break in,” Lakki Marwat Police spokesperson Shahid Hameed said, adding that RPG-7s, grenades and other “advanced weapons” were used. The killed Policeman was identified as Constable Tehsinullah of the Rapid Response Force while the terrorist was identified as Owais Abdulkhel. Weapons were recovered from his possession. Read less...

One Army personnel was killed and unspecified number of others sustained injuries when Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres attacked an Army camp in Sabbri Dhaddar area of Sibi District in Balochistan on January 2, reports Radio Zrumbesh. Claiming the responsibility of the attack, the BLA ‘spokesman’ Jeehand Baloch said the Army post was destroyed in the attack. Read less...

The National Security Committee (NSC) on January 2, asked Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, without directly naming them, to deny safe haven to Pakistani terrorist groups on its soil and end their patronage, while reiterating its intent to crush terrorist groups operating inside the country with full force, reports Dawn. The statement said: “Pakistan’s security is uncompromisable and the full writ of the state will be maintained on every inch of the (sic) Pakistan’s territory.” The meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and attended by key Ministers, services chiefs, and top intelligence officials, also endorsed the government’s road map for restoration of economic stability in the country. “No country will be allowed to provide sanctuaries and facilitation to terrorists and Pakistan reserves all rights in that respect to safeguard her people,” the NSC statement read. Further, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Afghanistan’s soil continued to be used against Pakistan, despite an agreement. Speaking on Geo TV Shahzeb Khanzada’s show, he said the Afghan Government had promised that their territory wouldn’t be used against Pakistan, adding: “The Pakistani government is in constant touch with Afghanistan in connection with border violations”. Earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, on December 31, had hinted that Pakistan was planning strikes against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Afghanistan if Taliban authorities failed to act against the terrorist group and hand over the TTP leaders and fighters living there. Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate’s Defence Ministry on January 2, said in a statement that Sanaullah’s words were “provocative and baseless.” It further stated that Afghanistan was “ready to defend its territorial integrity and independence”. Read less...

Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on January 3, said that the Government has decided not to hold talks with any terrorist organisation, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reports Samaa TV. Rana shared granular details of all the decisions undertaken during the two-day-long National Security Committee (NSC) which was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and concluded in Islamabad on January 2. The Federal Interior Minister clarified that terrorists do not hold dominion over any stretch of land in either Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Balochistan. Read less...

Foreign Minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on January 3, said that Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan is a reality but Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is a fitna (evil), reports Samaa TV. He accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members of financing the TTP by paying extortion to the militants. Bilawal said, “We raised our voice even when decisions were being taken against our national security. We did what the whole world could not do in Afghanistan together. We wiped out the terrorists in Waziristan, Swat, and Karachi.” He said that the accomplices of the terrorists were released without consulting anyone. Where in the world does this happen, he questioned. He further said after winning the war against terrorists, the people involved in the Army Public School (APS) massacre were released. He accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan of comprising on the blood of martyrs. Bilawal alleged that PTI leaders were paying extortion to the TTP militants. Read less...

The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 3, released the annual performance report of the year 2022 which reported 1,225 intelligence-based operations were conducted across the province, in which 244 suspects were arrested, 197 cases were registered and 782 recoveries were made, reports The News. According to the CTD spokesman, the department has achieved important achievements for the eradication of terrorism while maintaining its previous traditions. The spokesperson said in the year 2022, the operation wing of CTD Punjab added 105 suspicious persons and 354 madrasas to the Fourth Schedule list, apart from this. CTD Punjab's investigation wing has registered 205 terrorism cases, while 246 terrorists were arrested out of which 183 persons were challaned. 22 cases investigations are in progress for trial. The spokesman maintained the CTD Punjab recovered 64.36 kg of explosives, 48 hand grenades, 253 detonators, 7 batteries and 215 meters of prima cord, 3 SMGs, 40 pistols, 324 bullets and 3 magazines from terrorists. Similarly, the CTD Punjab detained 20 proclaimed offenders (POs) and 3 POs who were in Red Book died in a police encounter. He said the CTD raced 13 suspects involved in head money cases and 16 cases of head money were completed and red notices were issued to six accused. Read less...

Two Punjab Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel, identified as Additional Director Naveed Sial and Inspector Nasir Abbas, were shot dead by unidentified assailant at a truck stop in Khanewal city (Khanewal District) of Punjab on January 3, reports Samaa TV. Footage of the incident showed that a lone gunman was involved in the incident. Read less...

Federal Minister of Interior, Rana Sanaullah said on January 4, that the Government could reengage in negotiations with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) if the militant outfit won't challenge the state's writ, reports Geo TV. "If the TTP decides to come under the ambit of the Constitution, then we can hold talks with them," Rana Sanaullah told a similar demand that the previous Government put forth before the TTP. Read less...

One Police Constable injured when Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres opened fire on two Policemen on a motorcycle patrol near the Rapid Response Force (RRF) headquarters in Saeedabad area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, on January 4, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesman’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed the responsibility of the attack. Read less...

Three Army personnel were killed and two others injured when Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres ambushed their vehicle with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Tump tehsil (revenue unit) of Kech District in Balochistan on January 4, reports Radio Zrumbesh. While claiming the responsibility of the attack, BLF ‘spokesman’ Major Gwahram Baloch said BLF cadres attacked a Vigo vehicle of a military convoy going to Mand from the Tump Army camp in the Kech area with a remote control bomb between Barat and Dukop in the Tump area. Read less...

Two militant outfits, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Al Qaeda-linked Lashkar-i-Khorasan, on January 4, claimed responsibility for killing of two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) personnel in Khanewal city (Khanewal District) of Punjab on January 3, reports Dawn. Earlier it was reported that both personnel belonged to Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). According to the first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn, ISI Multan Region Director Naveed Sadiq and Inspector Nasir Abbas met a source at a roadside hotel on the National Highway near Pirowal in Khanewal District. After having tea, they all walked to the parking lot when the source himself, identified as Umar Khan of Kacha Khoo, pulled out his gun, shot the officers dead and fled from the scene. The suspect reportedly executed the attack on the directions of his group leader, Asadullah. Meanwhile, the TTP claimed responsibility for the attack. Earlier, a group calling itself Lashkar-i-Khorasan, linked with Al Qaeda, had also made a similar claim. “Yesterday, a secret squad of TTP killed ISI Deputy Director Multan Naveed Sadiq along with his colleague Inspector Nasir Butt at Bismillah Highway in Khanewal district of Punjab,” TTP ‘spokesman’ Mohammad Khorasani said in a statement to the media. Read less...

Two militant outfits, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Al Qaeda-linked Lashkar-i-Khorasan, on January 4, claimed responsibility for killing of two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) personnel in Khanewal city of Punjab on January 3, reports Dawn. Earlier it was reported that both personnel belonged to Counter Terrorism Department (CTD). According to the first information report (FIR), a copy of which is available with Dawn, ISI Multan Region Director Naveed Sadiq and Inspector Nasir Abbas met a source at a roadside hotel on the National Highway near Pirowal in Khanewal District. After having tea, they all walked to the parking lot when the source himself, identified as Umar Khan of Kacha Khoo, pulled out his gun, shot the officers dead and fled from the scene. The suspect reportedly executed the attack on the directions of his group leader, Asadullah. Read less...

At least 11 terrorists, including a militant ‘commander’ and two suicide bombers, were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Wana area of South Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 5, reports Dawn. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Security Forces (SFs) “successfully foiled a high-profile terrorist activity” during the operation. “During intense exchange of fire, 11 terrorists, including terrorist commander Hafizullah alias Tor Hafiz and two suicide bombers, were killed,” the ISPR said. A cache of weapons and ammunitions were also recovered from the possession of killed terrorists. Read less...

Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on January 5, that the recently held meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) in Islamabad had decided that there will be “no talks with any terrorist or militant group”, reports Dawn. Sanaullah was asked about the explicit threat issued by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) for “openly declaring war against the TTP to appease America”. The TTP statement pointedly mentioned PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by name, as well as their respective parties, and warned religious parties against “activities against us”. He further said that the NSC had concluded that talks, if needed, should be carried out with the Afghan Government so that the importance of the Doha agreement, wherein the country had vowed to not allow its soil to be used against others, could be stressed. “If that is implemented, then the issue of terrorism in Pakistan and other countries will be solved, and Pakistan will be safe if Afghanistan honours its promise”, he added. Read less...

Five Police personnel deployed on security of polio workers got injured when unidentified terrorists opened fire and threw hand grenades on their vehicle in the Hussaini Chowk of Dera Ismail Khan town (Dera Ismail Khan District) on January 5, reports Samaa TV. One terrorist also sustained injuries in the retaliatory fire of Police personnel. However, the terrorists managed to escape. Read less...

One intelligence agency person was killed by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA)’s Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) in a bomb attack in Khuzdar District on January 5, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesperson’ Jeehand Baloch claimed responsibility of the attack. He said that the cadres of BLA eliminated a key person of intelligence agency. Intelligence wing of BLA had gathered credible information that a resident of Khuzdar, Aftab Shah, son of Abdullah Shah, who works for Pakistani secretive agencies, is attempting to penetrate into Baloch pro-independence organisations to collect intelligence information for enemy forces. BLA fighters made contact with Aftab Shah and after trapping him, the STOS members eliminated him in a bomb attack last night in Khuzdar. Jeehand Baloch said that Aftab Shah was a key collaborator of Pakistani military and its secretive agency ISI. He was heading a network of enemy collaborators in Khuzdar and Zehri. This network is involved in forcibly disappearing Baloch youth, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, and other activities against Baloch liberation movement. Read less...

Police repulsed an armed attack of the terrorists on a Police Station at Wargara area of Lakki Marwat District on January 5, reports ARY News. Police said that all officials at the Wargara Police station remained safe in the terrorist attack. The terrorists faced retaliation by the Police force and locals. The terrorists managed to escape from the scene by taking advantage of the darkness of the night. Read less...

A Baloch man, identified as Shams Saleh s/o Master Saleh, allegedly forcibly disappeared by Security Forces from Balochi Bazar Apsar in Turbat town of Kech District on January 6, reports The Balochistan Post. Read less...

Baloch Republican Guards (BRG) attacked and blew up gas pipeline in Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab on January 6, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BRG ‘spokesman’ Dostin Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. He said in his statement that BRG cadres attacked the thirty-six (36) inch diameter gas pipeline going to Punjab from the Sui Gas Plant, was destroyed by explosives. Dostin Baloch has further said that as a result of the explosion, gas supply to most of the Districts of Punjab has been completely suspended. Read less...

Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and security agencies killed four militants in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Sarband area on the outskirts of Peshawar, provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on January 6, reports Dawn. Four Kalashnikovs and three hand grenades were seized, officials said, adding that around more four militants escaped and a search operation was underway. Read less...

In Lakki Marwat District, Police along with residents repulsed an attack on a Police post in Shahtora Takhtikhel area near Serai Naurang town on January 6. “A group of terrorists used light and heavy weapons to breach the police post building but they faced tough resistance from the cops deployed there,” said an official on January 7. Read less...

One Policeman was injured when Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres attacked the eagle force of Police with hand grenade near the fish market in Turbat town of Kech District on January 6, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesperson’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility of the attack. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) on January 6 allegedly detained two people from Gomazi town of Kech District and shifted them to an undisclosed location, reports The Balochistan Post. The disappeared youths were identified as Bilal, son of Ghafoor, and Umair son of Dad Mohammad, residents of Gomazi. Read less...

Three Army soldiers sustained injuries on January 6 when the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres targeted an Army convoy with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Sharhrag area of Harnai District in Balochistan, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesperson’ Jeehand Baloch claimed responsibility of the attack. "Five personnel of Pakistani military’s bomb disposal squad were targeted with an IED, when they were passing through a road in Gelani, Shahrag. At least three enemy personnel were injured in the attack", Jeehand Baloch said. Read less...

A Police Constable, identified as Pasham Khan was killed and another suffered gunshot wounds in a militants attack in Dogar Umarzai village in Bannu District, Dawn reports on January 8. Read less...

Two Army personnel were killed when Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) targeted an Army outpost with rocket-propelled grenades and other heavy weapons in Soraan area of Dhaddar in Kachhi District of Balochistan on January 7, reports Radio Zrumbesh. While claiming responsibility of the attack, BLA ‘spokesperson’ Jeehand Baloch said the attack lasted over 20 minutes in which the Army suffered heavy material losses. The enemy troops indiscriminately fired mortar rounds after the attack, however, BLA cadres completed their mission and returned to their positions. Read less...

A hand grenade was lobbed at the home of Member of National Assembly (MNA) Nasir Khan Musazai in Peshawar, the provincial capital of KP, in the night of January 8, reports Dawn. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Peshawar Police said that the home, falling within the limits of the Inqilab police station, was attacked by unknown miscreants. However, no causality was reported. The MNA Nasir Khan Musazai had joined the PTI in 2018 but had said earlier this week that he had accepted the invitation of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and would formally join the party within the next few days. The attack on his home comes days after he told journalists at the Peshawar Press Club that KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan had informed him to exercise caution and restrict his movement as threats had been received against him. Read less...

Police on January 8 shot dead two militants during an encounter in Shamooni Khattak area of Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) who were involved in the attack on a Police van on January 7, reports ARY News. Earlier, SATP had reported the incident in which a Policeman was killed and another injured on January 7 when militants lobbed a hand grenade at a Police mobile. Read less...

Unidentified militants attacked the Yarik Police Station of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan with gunfire and ‘missiles’ in the night of January 8, reports Dawn. However, no loss of life was reported. A Police spokesman, Syed Yaqoob Shah, said that militants surrounded the Yarik Police Station at around 1am and fired missiles at the building. Police retaliated to the attack and an exchanged fire with the attackers took place, which lasted for about 45 to 50 minutes. The militants were forced to flee. The Police Station building was partially damaged. Read less...

A group of clerics (religious scholars) from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on January 9 issued a fatwa condemning terrorism and stating that Jihad can only be declared by the head of an Islamic state, not by individuals, reports Samaa TV. In the fatwa (religious edict), the scholars declared that not everyone has the right to declare Jihad, and that avoiding the laws of the land is unlawful. They also stated that it is haram (forbidden or unlawful) to take up arms and wage war against police and military personnel. If soldiers and policemen are killed while protecting Pakistan, they are considered martyrs, according to the fatwa. The fatwa also addressed the issue of rebellion against the State, stating that insurgency against the ruler of the time is considered sedition, and that perpetrators deserve punishment. It stated that sedition and rioting within the Islamic state, as well as incitement against the state, are not permitted under Sharia (Islamic law). The fatwa declared that anyone involved in sedition is considered to be rebelling against the Constitution of Pakistan. The 14-page fatwa has been signed by 16 religious scholars from difference schools of thought, including Maulana Qari Ehsanul Haq, Mufti Subhanallah Jan, Dr Maulana Attaur Rehman, Maulana Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Dr Abdul Nasir, Mufti Mukhtarullah Haqqani, Maulana Tayyab Qureshi, Maulana Salmanul Haq Haqqani, Maulana Rehmatullah Qadri, Maulana Umar bin Abdul Aziz, Allama Abid Hussain Shakri, Mufti Mairajul Din Sarkani, Mufti Raza Mohammad Haqqani, Mufti Khalid Usmani, Mufti Sheikh Aijaz and Maulana Abdul Kareem. KP Chief Khateeb Maulana Tayyab Qureshi, one of the signatories, said the Ulema had issued the fatwa to answer some questions related to jihad. Maulana Tayyab Qureshi said: “Recently some so-called ulema tried to create chaos using Islam. After that, it became our responsibility to issue the fatwa.” Read less...

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan on January 10 revealed that his Government had planned to resettle Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with the help of the Afghan Taliban, but the plan hit a snag owing to non-cooperation of provinces, reports Dawn. Speaking during a seminar organised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government on terrorism in the Federal Capital Islamabad, the PTI chairman said that the Government had planned to relocate at least 5,000 TTP fighters and their family members which amount to about 35,000. But the plan did not materialise as provinces refused to foot the bill, he added. Initially, Sindh and Balochistan refused to give 3 per cent share from National Finance Commission (NFC) for the uplift of FATA and then the Federal Government stopped its cooperation after the PTI’s ouster, he claimed. Read less...

Imran Khan stated the fall of Kabul and rise of the Afghan Taliban to power provided Pakistan with a golden opportunity to deal with the TTP threat. “The Afghan Taliban pressurised the TTP, which had over 5,000 fighters among its 40,000-strong group, to go back to Pakistan and we took a number of steps to deal with it,” he said. Imran Khan said that there was an anti-merger group in tribal areas and the PTI wanted to launch uplift projects to satisfy the anti-merger group, but the lack of funds didn’t lead to anything significant in this regard. Read less...

An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded at a private clinic at Lunda Sharif bus stand in the limits of Gomal University Police Station in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 11, reports Dawn. Police said unknown persons had planted an explosive device outside the private clinic of Dr Rehmatullah Baloch at Lunda Sharif in which the clinic was destroyed while nearby shops were partially damaged. However, there was no loss of life. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 11 arrested 26 suspects during various combing operations across Punjab, reports Samaa TV. CTD officials reported launching raids at 40 locations of Punjab, including Mandi Bahauddin, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Khushab. During these raids, CTD interrogated around 1,929 suspected people and held 26 of them. A cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the suspects’ hideouts. Read less...

A report released on January 12 by Punjab Police revealed that the Police have killed 612 suspects in encounters during the past five years, reports Samaa TV. The report stated that 67 suspects were killed in shootouts in 2018, 69 in 2019, 166 in 2020, 186 in 2021, and 124 until September 2022. The number of Police officers killed in the line of duty during this time period is 57. The Police have registered 544 cases related to encounters during this time period. Read less...

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on January 12 that terrorism posed a common threat to both Pakistan and Afghanistan, as Islamabad battles rising insurgency, reports Geo TV. “Both, people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, are victims of terrorism," Foreign Minister Bilawal said during a telephonic conversation with Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Stressing the need for joint efforts to eliminate terrorism from the region, the foreign minister said that the authorities of both countries "must do all we can to defeat this menace.” During the conversation, the Foreign Minister also condemned the terrorist attack outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul, which took place January 11, and offered his condolences. Read less...

Four Army personnel were killed and many others injured when Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres ambushed the Army with rockets and heavy weapons at Nokain Rah area of Kech District in Balochistan on January 12, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesperson’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility for attack. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel on January 12 arrested two terrorists, identified as Ehsan and Osama, from Multan city (Multan District) of Punjab, reports ARY News. Explosives and cash were recovered from the possession of terrorists. Read less...

The Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) on January 12 released its report for December 2022 which said 41 persons disappeared and 20 others killed in December in Balochistan, reports The Balochistan Post. In the report, the HRCB has covered the human rights violations that occurred across Balochistan. The report reads: The human rights situation during the month of December remains worrisome. Enforced disappearance, extrajudicial execution and honor killing continued unabated. Human Rights Council of Balochistan received reports of the enforced disappearance of at least 41 people including eight students, abducted by Frontier Corps and the extra-judicial execution of 20 people including two women during the month. Moreover, a massive crackdown was carried out against the leaders of Haq Do Tehreek in the Gwadar District resulting in the arrest of more than a hundred people and imposition of section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1898, a colonial times law that prohibits large gatherings and social occurrences and curtail constitutional rights of peaceful assembly and association. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 13 arrested three Sindh Revolutionary Army (SRA) cadres during a raid in Mochko area on Northern Bypass in Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, reports ARY News. The CTD spokesperson said that a raid was conducted on a tip-off in Mochko area in which three SRA cadres were arrested while two other cadres managed to escape. Explosive material and arms were recovered from the possession of the arrested cadres. According to the spokesperson, the arrested cadres confessed of their involvement in bomb blasts and murders in Sindh. They also revealed that they received orders regarding the target and other items for the terror activities from a senior SRA cadre namely Inam Abbasi. Read less...

A Policeman and a civilian were killed, and one Policeman injured in a drive-by attack by two motorcyclists at the Jhangi Police checkpoint in Vehowa tehsil of Taunsa Sharif District of Punjab on January 14, reports Dawn. Police said unidentified terrorists attacked the Punjab Police off-road border checkpoint and killed Police official Mazar and one unidentified passer-by. Another Policeman Ramzan, sustained injuries. Read less...

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on January 14 strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Police Station in Sarband area of Peshawar and expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of a Deputy Superintendent of Police and two other personnel in the attack. He said the sacrifices of police and law enforcement agencies are unforgettable. PM said the condemnable conspiracies of terrorists to weaken morale of the nation would not succeed. He said the nation along with law enforcement agencies is determined to root out the evil of terrorism. Read less...

The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed the two terrorists who were involved in the attack, identified as Gul Hayyee and Hazrat Umar, both residents of Bara area of Khyber District and Mohmand Hal Yeka Tut in Peshawar, while two to three others terrorists managed to escape, adds The Express Tribune. A CTD spokesperson revealed that a cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of the terrorists. Read less...

Three Policemen, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Badaber, Sardar Hussain and his two Police guards, identified as Irshad and Jehanzeb, were killed in a terrorist attack on the Sarband Police Station in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on January 14, reports Dawn. KP Inspector General of Police (IGP) Moazzam Jah Ansari said that sniper weapons were used by terrorists for the first time in Peshawar. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the responsibility of the attack. Read less...

A seminary teacher was found beheaded in a mountainous area near Darra Pezu town of Lakki Marwat District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 15, reports Dawn. The victim, identified as Mohammad Noor, 40, was a teacher in Jamia Rashidia in Mastikhel area of Tajori town. He belonged to Tank District. Allah Noor Khan, a brother of the slain teacher, told the Police he was shopping in Pezu Bazaar when someone informed him that the body of his brother was lying in the mountainous area. Read less...

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Amir Zulfiqar Khan on January 15 ordered a clean-up operation against militants and other criminals involved in attacks on Police check posts in different cities of south Punjab, reports Dawn. IGP Amir Zulfiqar Khan was holding a meeting at the Dera Ghazi Khan regional police officer (RPO) office after a head constable was martyred in an attack on a check post at Taunsa on January 14. Additional IGs of south Punjab, Special Branch, Counter Terrorism Department, Punjab operations, Dera Ghazi Khan District Police Officer (DPO) and other officers were present. The IGP directed Regional Police Officers (RPO) to increase the number of personnel at Police check posts in border areas and deploy expert snipers equipped with modern gadgets. Read less...

Mobile van of the Lakki Marwat City Police Station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa narrowly escaped a bomb blast on January 16, reports Dawn. A Police official said unknown terrorists had planted an improvised explosive device (IED) under a culvert on the Old Kutchery Road to target a Police patrolling party. He said the area where the bomb was planted was at a stone’s throw from the city police station and the tehsil building housing offices of assistant and additional assistant commissioners. The IED went off with a bang moments after the Police van passed over the culvert. A patrol party led by additional Station House Officer (SHO) Abdul Saboor Khan was on-board the van, who remained unhurt in the attack. Read less...

The Deputy Chief of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) Abdul Rehman Makki was blacklisted as a global terrorist by the United Nations (UN) on January 16, reports The Times of India. The UN Security Council's al-Qaida Sanctions Committee added Makki to its list of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo. In June 2022, China had put a hold, at the last moment, on a joint proposal by India and the US to list Makki under the 1267 al-Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. Makki is a US-designated terrorist and brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Toiba head and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Read less...

A Baloch youth, identified as Abdul Khaliq s/o Ghulam Muhammad Qambrani, allegedly forcibly disappeared by Security Forces (SFs) after being arrested from the Irrigation Colony of Sariab Road in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on January 17, reports The Balochistan Post. The abductee is a tailor by profession who was detained by the SFs from his shop. His whereabouts remain unknown since. He is the nephew of Abdul Ghaffar Qambrani, who is known for his activism against enforced disappearances. Read less...

A Police patrol vehicle suffered slight damage after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the road went off in the Khoi Bahara Police Station of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 17, reports Dawn. A Police official said the terrorists had planted an IED on the roadside to target the armoured vehicle of the Khoi Bahara Police. After the explosion, the Police responded to the attack and the militants escaped from the area. Read less...

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on January 17 blamed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led Government for creating problems for Pakistan through its policy of "appeasement" towards the Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reports Geo TV. During an interview with Al Jazeera, Bilawal termed Khan's approach "wrong" and assured that the incumbent government has put an end to the PTI's approach. Bilawal said that the Government — in its National Security Council (NSC) meeting with top political and military leadership — decided that it would "not tolerate" terrorist groups in Pakistan and violators of the law. Read less...

A teenager was found beheaded in a remote area of Bargai village in Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 18, reports Dawn. The victim was identified as Raheedullah (19). He was killed by unidentified terrorists on charges of spying. A Police official said that the militant group ‘Ittehadul Mujahideen-i-Khurasan’ had left a dagger and a hand written chit in Pashto language along the body, carrying a message that Raheedullah was found guilty of spying for Army and Counter Terrorism Department. Read less...

Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres attacked a Frontier Corps (FC) post with a hand grenade at Kalam Chowk in Chitkan area of Panjgur District in Balochistan on January 18, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesperson’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility for the hand grenade attack without mentioning the loss of life and property to the forces. Read less...

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan on January 18 apportioned blame for the recent resurgence of terrorism in the country on the unwillingness of the current Government to abide by the commitments made by the previous regime, saying that despite an agreement among all political parties, no resources were provided for the rehabilitation of TTP fighters and their families, reports Dawn. In a wide-ranging interview with BBC Urdu, the PTI chief said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Government did not pay heed to those returning from Afghanistan. He recalled that as soon as the regime changed in Kabul, the TTP fighters in Afghanistan were asked by the Afghan Taliban to return to Pakistan. “The previous Ghani administration used to patronise them and they used to attack Pakistan from there,” Imran Khan claimed, saying that at this point, the country had two options. “We could either line up those 40,000 people, including fighters and their families, and shoot them, or we could rehabilitate them.” He claimed there was consensus among all political parties on the issue, but regretted the fact that this did not happen. “When the militants came, they were not rehabilitated or given any proper attention, and no money was spent on them. We were afraid that if we did not pay attention to them, then terrorism would start in different places, which [is what] has happened.” Read less...

On January 18, four Security Force (SF) personnel were killed when terrorists from across the Pakistan-Iran border targeted a SF convoy patrolling along the Chukab sector area of Panjgur District in Balochistan, reports Dawn. “Today, in a terrorist activity from across Pakistan-Iran border in Chukab sector, district Panjgur, Balochistan, four security forces personnel have embraced martyrdom,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said. It further said that the militants used Iranian soil to “target a convoy of security forces patrolling along the border”. Iran has been asked to hunt down the terrorists on their side, the ISPR statement added. Read less...

Security forces (SF) gunned down four terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Talsar area of Hoshab in Kech District of Balochistan Province on January 18, reports Dawn. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an IBO was initiated “to clear a hideout linked with firing incidents on security forces along M-8, in general area Talsar, Hoshab” on a tip-off about the presence of terrorists. “As a result of continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) of the area, a location of terrorists was identified and security forces were heli inserted [to nab the terrorists].” During the heavy exchange of fire, all four terrorists were killed, while a cache of arms and ammunition including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) was also recovered from their possession, the ISPR added. Read less...

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres killed a non-Baloch person on the charges of being Army agent at Absar in Turbat of Kech District in Balochistan on January 18, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesman’ Jeehand Baloch claimed responsibility for the killing. Jeehand Baloch said that the intelligence wing of BLA had gathered information that a non-resident Babo Khan alias Allah Rakhia is working as an informant for the Pakistani military in Turbat and adjoining areas. He was working in disguise, and had been spotted in company of Pakistani military personnel. Read less...

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Pakistan’s leadership will not hold talks with terrorist organisations that don’t respect the country’s laws and the Constitution, adding that the former government adopted an appeasement policy towards the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Dawn reports on January 20. “The new leadership in Pakistan, both political and military, has been absolutely clear. There will be no talks with terrorist organisations that don’t respect our laws and Constitution…I am confident that if we can work with the Afghan interim government, which has influence over these groups, we will be successful in maintaining our security,” he said. Read less...

Three Police constables were killed in a suicide attack at Takhta Beg Police checkpost in Jamrud tehsil (revenue unit) of Khyber District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 19, reports Dawn. Police said terrorists attacked the Takhta Beg checkpost at 7:30pm. The terrorists armed with hand grenades, entered the premises and opened fire using a sub-machine gun. After the firing, a suicide bomber blew himself up. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

Eight people were injured in an explosion near a railway track in the Paneer area of Balochistan’s Bolan District in Balochistan on January 20, reports Dawn. Pakistan Railways spokesperson in Balochistan, Muhammad Kashif, told that the blast occurred when the Peshawar-bound Jaffer Express was passing by the area. The train was coming from Mach area. As a result of the blast, six bogies of the train derailed causing injuries to at least eight people, he added. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kach Agha Samiullah also confirmed the incident. He said it was a remote-control explosion that derailed multiple bogies of the train. Read less...

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi informed the Senate on January 20 that 42 journalists were killed in Pakistan over past four years, reports Dawn. Data from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, showed that 15 of the journalists hailed from Punjab, 11 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and three from Balochistan. The deaths were cases where journalists were shot dead, targeted, killed by terrorists and those that were untraced. The data further shows that seven suspects were arrested in Punjab out of which two were currently out on bail. Five out of the seven arrested were standing trial while eight suspects were on the run. One accused was released by the court. Similarly, the data shows that four suspects had been arrested in Sindh while seven were facing trial. In KP, two suspects were acquitted, four were facing trial and one suspect was on the run. In Balochistan, two suspects had escaped, one was facing trial, one suspect was sentenced and one suspect was facing an investigation. Read less...

According to a report released by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), titled 'Pakistan Press Freedom Report 2022', four media persons were killed while performing their duty in 2022, reports The Express Tribune on January 22. The report mentioned that freedom of media in Pakistan faced exacerbating scenarios of jeopardy in 2022, whereas freedom of speech was continuously suppressed and sabotaged. The CPNE report furthered that during 2022, threats and attacks faced by media personnel in the context of freedom of expression contradicted the claims of democratic Government in Pakistan and reflected the authoritarianism system. Read less...

According to the United Nations (UN) Staff Union, seven Pakistanis out of 32 UN peacekeeping personnel were killed in deliberate attacks against them in 2022, The Express Tribune reports on January 22. Six of the Pakistani peacekeepers — Muhammad Ismail, Faizan Ali, Asif Ali Awan, Samiullah Khan, Muhammad Saad Nomani and Muhammad Jamil Khan — serving United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), were killed in a helicopter crash in east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Another Pakistani peacekeeper Babar Siddique, serving with MONUSCO, was killed in an attack on the Mission’s operational base in Minembwe, South Kivu, by suspected members of the Twirwaneho armed group. Read less...

On January 21, two Police officers, identified as Imran Khan and Rameez Khan, were killed and one, identified as Yousuf Ali, was injured in a gun attack on a Police check post by militants in Zardad Dahri in Charsadda District in Peshawar Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan, reports The Express Tribune. No one claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

A patrol van of the Badaber Police Station in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, narrowly escaped a bomb blast on January 22, reports Dawn. According to a statement issued by the Peshawar Capital City Police (CCP), Nasir Khan, in charge of the Badaber’s Shaikhan checkpost, was patrolling in Gula Khan Zangal, an area bordering Khyber District, when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near his vehicle. “Khan’s vehicle was slightly damaged in the blast. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported,” CCP statement said. Read less...

Six people including a journalist allegedly disappeared by Security Forces (SFs) from the Quetta, Sibi, and Kalat District of Balochistan, The Balochistan Post reported on January 23. Security Forces (SFs) allegedly disappeared three students from the A-One city area of Quetta city, the provincial capital of Balochistan on January 19, The Balochistan Post reported on January 23. The abductees were identified as Kiya s/o Ashraf, Atif s/o Muhammad Afzal resident of Mashkay, and Sher Khan s/o Soomar, a resident of Naag Raghay. Security Forces (SFs) forcibly disappeared a man named Shandar s/o Dilawar from Sibi town (Sibi District) of Balochistan, The Balochistan Post reported on January 23. According to the family sources, the whereabouts of Shandar remain unknown since. On January 21, unidentified assailants forcibly disappeared Nasrullah, son of Haji Huzoor Bakhsh Mengal from the Mangochar area of Kalat District of Balochistan, The Balochistan Post reported on January 23. Local sources said the armed assailants belong to the Government-backed militia, locally known as, “death squads”. Unidentified assailants abducted a journalist, identified as Hammad Ali, in front of his house near the Industrial Police Station in Quetta, Balochistan, The Balochistan Post reported on January 23. The eyewitnesses said that masked gunmen were in a black car, while the witnesses claim that there were Policemen also in the car. Read less...

One Army soldier was killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in Janikhel area of Bannu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 23, reports Dawn. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) identified the killed soldier as 24-year-old Sepoy Gul Sher, a resident of Khyber District. Read less...

A Policeman, identified as head constable Gul Baran, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Mallah Khel area of Daraban tehsil (revenue unit) in Dera Ismail Khan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 24, reports Dawn. Gul Baran was killed after the unidentified assailants sprayed him with bullets while he was on his way home from a mosque. Read less...

Officials of various intelligence and security agencies and Police of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on January 24, decided to mount strict surveillance of extremist elements and foreigners staying illegally, reports Dawn. An unnamed Police officer told that the first meeting of the security coordination committee had decided to keep educational institutions, including seminaries, under strict surveillance to identify elements having extremist trends. Foreigners staying in the twin cities illegally will be registered, the officer said. Surveillance and vigilance in and around public places, especially bus terminals will be started in an effective manner, the officer added. Read less...

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on January 24 delivered death sentence to two local collaborators of Security Forces (SFs) in Bolan District of Balochistan, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesman’ Jeehand Baloch claimed responsibility for the death sentence. He said that the freedom fighters of Baloch Liberation Army delivered death sentence to two agents of occupying forces, as per the ruling of a Baloch national court. On credible information from BLA’s intelligence wing, the BLA cadres had arrested two agents of Pakistani military and its secretive agencies, identified as Wali s/o Ghazi Khan Marri and Gulab Shah s/o Saleem Shah few days ago. He said that the two detained agents confessed to all their crimes during the investigations. Gulab Shah confessed that he aided Army during operations in Bolan and adjoining areas in November 2022. He also confessed that he provided information to the Army regarding houses of Baloch freedom fighters. Wali Khan confessed that he has been an agent of enemies forces since long. He has been involved in aiding Army during military operations and providing them supplies. He confessed that in return of his services he was awarded construction contracts of military camps and posts. Read less...

One Army personnel was killed a sniper attack by Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) at Nokohi Hotel in Nondad of Jhao area in Awaran District on January 26, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLF ‘spokesman’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. Read less...

A soldier of Levies Force, Khalid Hussain Kurd, was killed when unidentified assailants opened fire on a check post of Levies Force in Bala Nari area of Bolan District on January 27, reports Dawn. The personnel deployed on the post returned fire, triggering a heavy exchange of fire with the assailants who escaped from the area taking advantage of the heavy exchange of fire. Read less...

Police Constable Nazeer Ahmed Bangulzai was killed and two others Police personnel, identified as Additional Station House Officer (SHO) Nazeer Ahmed Umrani and Constable Abdul Majid, sustained injuries when unidentified terrorist on motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire on a Police vehicle which was patrolling the main highway near Mughalzai area of Kalat District on January 27, reports Dawn. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) foiled an attempt to blow up a passenger train by defusing an improvised explosives device (IED) planted on the rail track in Dera Murad Jamali area of Nasirabad District on January 27, reports Dawn. Read less...

Three Army personnel were killed and several others injured when Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) targeted an Army base from three directions near Dandaar area of Kolwah town in Awaran District of Balochistan on January 27, reports Radio Zrumbesh. BLA ‘spokesman’ Jeehand Baloch claimed responsibility for the attack. "BLA will continue to intensify its attacks against the occupying forces till their full withdrawal from Balochistan", Jeehand Baloch said. Read less...

A terrorist was shot dead during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 28, reports Geo News. "The killed terrorists remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and [the] killing of innocent citizens," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 28 killed two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in an encounter in Mauza Jhangi area under Vohawa Police Station of Dera Ghazi Khan District in Punjab, reports Dawn. CTD spokesperson said the CTD had received a credible information that four TTP terrorists were present in Tri-Border area of Mauza Jhangi and were to attack some check posts in the District. The slain terrorists, identified as Roid Khan and Hanifullah Khan, hailing from Shabqadar area of Charsadda District, were involved in terrorism incidents and reconnaissance of LEAs offices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and other cities of Punjab. Two others terrorists managed to flee taking an advantage of darkness. One Kalashnikov with 40 live bullets, a pistol along with 10 live bullets and explosive material, two detonators and as many hand grenades were recovered from the encounter spot. Read less...

A terrorist, identified as Umar Niazi, who killed Naveed Sadiq and Nasir Hussain — the Deputy Director and Inspector of the Inter-Services Intelligence’s (ISI) Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) — on January 3, was shot dead by security Forces (SFs) on January 30 during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Kurram District of KP, reports Geo News. Umar Niazi who was at large after killing the ISI officials, was arrested with serious injuries following an exchange of fire. Niazi succumbed to his injuries after a while. Intelligence agencies had nabbed the terrorist before he could slip into Afghanistan. Read less...

At least 93 persons, including 27 Policemen, were killed and 221 others injured in a suicide blast inside a mosque in Police Lines area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 30, reports Geo News. The suicide attacker was present in the front row during the Zuhr prayer (second prayer offered to God at the noon) when he exploded himself. Sahibzada Noor Ul Amin, Imam of the mosque, was also killed in the blast. Capital City Police Officer, Peshawar (CCPO) Ejaz Khan said close to 300-400 Policemen usually offer prayer at the Zuhr time. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed the responsibility for the attack. Read less...

One person was injured after an explosion took place in the Kachhi District of Balochistan on January 30, reports Geo News. Police said that the explosives were placed on a roadside. Read less...

The suicide bomber who blew himself up after law enforcement personnel encircled their hideout in Hund village of Chota Lahor tehsil (revenue unit) in Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 30, was identified as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist Izharullah, who carried PKR two million head money, Dawn reported on February 2. DOP Najamul Hussain disclosed on February 1 that Izhar and his accomplice had refused to surrender when the Police asked them on a megaphone to do so prior to the raid. Izhar, who used two aliases, Shiraz and Abdullah, belonged to Asota village of Razaar tehsil. His other colleague, who also blew himself up, was identified as Zeenat, hailing from Bajaur District. Another terrorist, who was arrested alive, was identified as Shoaib, also belonging to Bajaur District. Read less...

Two terrorists blew themselves up and a third one surrendered to police after law enforcement personnel encircled their hideout in Hund village of Chota Lahor tehsil (revenue unit) in Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on January 30, reports Dawn. According to Swabi District Police Officer (DPO) Najamul Hassan, two terrorists blew themselves up and a third surrendered to Police after law enforcement personnel encircled their hideout after receiving information about the presence of terrorists. Two constables were also injured during the encounter. Read less...

Two terrorists were killed during an encounter with Security Forces in the Loni area of Kulachi tehsil In Dera Ismail Khan District on January 30, reports Dawn. A cache of arms were recovered from the possession of the slain militants. Read less...

Under the Universal Periodic Review process at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the member states called on Pakistan to stop enforced disappearances and other human rights abuses and demanded the protection of people, The Balochistan post reported on January 31. UNHRC meeting on January 30 was Pakistan’s fourth review, having previously been reviewed under this process in 2008, 2012, and 2017. In the meeting, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, Paraguay, India, and other member states recommended Pakistan ratify the Convention for the Protection of Enforcedly Disappeared persons and resolve the issue of custodial killings. The European country Italy recommended ending enforced disappearances, ratifying the EDK Convention, and holding those involved accountable. While the United States and the United Kingdom demanded democratic policies from Pakistan, they expressed concern over the killing of minority groups, and religious minorities, especially Ahmadis. Read less...

Police on January 31-night foiled a major terrorist attack on Makerwal Police Station in Isakkhel town of Mianwali District in Punjab, reports Dawn. In a statement, Mianwali District Police Officer (DPO) said that a group of 20 to 25 heavily armed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists attacked the Makerwal Police Station. However, the DPO said, the terrorists were forced to flee after an exchange of heavy gunfire. Read less...

The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on January 31, arrested a Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) terrorist, identified as Kamran Ali aka Kami Rind and recovered explosive material from his possession during an operation in Tando Mohammad Khan town (Tando Mohammad Khan District) of Sindh, reports Dawn. Kamran Ali is a resident of Radhan town of Dadu District. Besides explosives weighed around 450 kgs, two non-electric detonators were seized from him, CTD officials said, adding that he was residing in Karachi Central Prison’s staff colony. Kamran Ali confessed that he belonged to the SRA and wanted to target members of law enforcement agency personnel near Tando Mohammad Khan bypass. Read less...

The Security Forces (SFs) on January 31, recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), seven rocket-propelled grenades and fuses near the Pak-Afghan border in Mamond tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn. The recovery was made during an intelligence-based operation conducted jointly by a team of Police and Bajaur Scouts, according to a statement issued from the District Police Officer’s office in Khar town. Read less...