KABUL: Taliban fighters captured parts of Kunduz, one of Afghanistan’s largest cities, in a complex attack in the early hours of Saturday, even as the militant group and US negotiators seemed days away from a breakthrough in peace talks.
US negotiators have repeatedly pressed the Taliban to agree to hold talks with the foreign-backed Kabul government and to a cease-fire, but the militant group has said that will not happen until a timetable for the departure of US-led troops is set.
According to media reports, the Taliban, which demand the expulsion of all foreign forces from Afghanistan, hold sway over nearly half of the country, with the group at its strongest since its 2001 defeat by a US-led invasion.
Under cover of darkness at approximately 2 am, the Taliban first stormed the posts of security forces in the city’s outskirts, Ghulam Rabbani, a member of the provincial council of Kunduz told Arab News by telephone.
“There is heavy fighting going on, the city is deserted, almost, except for some small shops in some alleys,” he said.
Helicopter gunships had fired into some areas while jet fighters, apparently belonging to US-led NATO forces, hovered in the sky without dropping ammunition, Rabbani said.
There was no electricity and barely any mobile services available in the city, according to residents.
Over the past four years, the Taliban have twice managed to seize large parts of Kunduz’s surrounding city areas before being driven off after days of fighting with Afghan forces and air strikes by the US. Despite ending their combat role in 2014, some 20,000 US and NATO forces still remain in Afghanistan.
The latest Taliban attack on Kunduz comes amid a series of military gains made by the group in recent weeks in various parts of the country.
On Friday, the Taliban overran areas in adjacent Takhar and last week seized one district in Badakhshan as well as territory in Faryab province- far from the militants’ traditional power-bases in the south and east.
The wave of Taliban attacks in recent days will put more strain on Ghani who is standing for re-election in late September.
“The attack on Kunduz is related to upcoming elections, talks and specially the last phase of talks,” Zabihullah Pakteen, an analyst told Arab News.
“It’s quiet possible to pressurise Ghani for concessions that could even lead to postponing the election and paving the way for an interim government,” he said.
In a Twitter post, Taliban Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid asked Afghan soldiers to lay down their arms and surrender.
“Kabul administration troopers should not kill themselves at the hands of Mujahidin, rather calmly lay down your weapons & safeguard your lives,” he said.
The Taliban claim to have killed dozens of government troops since the assault began, and released a video showing a group of armed men dressed in military uniform, surrendering to Taliban fighters after walking through what appears to be a government building.
General Attiqullah Amarkhail (retd.) of the Afghan army, said the Taliban attacks in Kunduz showed an intelligence failure in Ghani’s shaky, divided government which has been left out of negotiations between the Taliban and US since talks began last summer in Qatar, and with Afghan presidential elections set for the end of September.
“It is a blow from many aspects, politically and militarily. It is the third time the Taliban gain ground in Kunduz and the government forces are not learning from their past mistakes,” Amarkhail told Arab News.
“While talks are nearing a final deal in Qatar, the Taliban stage an attack on Kunduz in order to show their strength and further describe the Kabul government as incompetent,” he said.
In a press conference after the attack, Sediq Seddiqi, Ghani’s chief spokesman said, “The defense and security forces have preparedness to foil the Taliban attack on Kunduz city…the Taliban will face defeat like the past times.”
The Taliban demand a total expulsion of US-led soldiers from the country where American forces and their NATO allies have fought the Taliban for 18 years.
But President Trump told Fox News Radio on Thursday that there would be only an initial reduction in troops, amid fears that a complete troop withdrawal could see Afghanistan plunged into a new round of civil war that could herald the return of Taliban rule and international militancy launched from Afghan soil.
As peace talks enter final phase, Taliban launch attack on major Afghan city
As peace talks enter final phase, Taliban launch attack on major Afghan city
- Helicopter gunships have opened fire in some areas: Kunduz official
- The attack is an intelligence failure of divided Ghani government, says Retd. Afghan army official
No indication from Pakistan on trying Imran Khan in military court — UK foreign secretary
- UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy says Khan, like other Pakistani prisoners, has right to fair trial and due process
- Pakistan’s military has initiated trials of at least 103 Khan supporters accused of attacking military installations last year
ISLAMABAD: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy recently assured a fellow parliamentarian that there have been “no recent indications” from Pakistani authorities that they intend to try former prime minister Imran Khan in a military court, reiterating that he had the right to a fair trial and due process.
Protesters linked to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attacked and damaged government and military buildings on May 9, 2023, after his brief arrest that day in a land graft case. Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots. The military has also initiated trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.
The development raised fears among Khan supporters of his possible trial by a military court, prompting the former prime minister to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court against it. The petition was dismissed by the court in September after the government said it had not decided whether or not it wanted to try the former premier.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson in September hinted at Khan’s possible military trial, saying that though the matter was sub judice, using military personnel for personal or political gains invites legal action.
In response to an Oct. 16 letter penned by Labour legislator Kim Johnson, Lammy assured him that the UK government engages regularly “at a senior level” with Pakistan on the country’s political situation.
“We have no recent indications from the Pakistani authorities that they intend to try Imran Khan in a military court, but my officials continue to monitor the situation closely,” Lammy wrote in a letter to Johnson dated Nov. 11.
The UK official said he has raised concerns about the potential use of military courts to try civilians, including Khan. Lammy added that such courts can lack transparency and independent scrutiny, making it difficult to assess their compliance with international standards.
“While Pakistan’s judicial processes are a domestic matter, we have been very clear that the Pakistani authorities need to act in line with their international obligations and with respect for fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process and humane detention,” he wrote.
“This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan’s citizens.”
Lammy said he remains concerned by restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in Pakistan, including those in relation to political opposition.
“In our engagements with the authorities, we continue to underline that the freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy,” he said.
Khan’s close aide, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari shared Lammy’s letter on social media platform X.
“Respect for free and fair elections, and the rule of law, underpinned by an independent judiciary, are the bedrock of a democracy,” Bukhari wrote. “Pakistanis continue to struggle for theirs.”
Khan, arguably Pakistan’s most popular politician, was ousted from office after a parliamentary no-trust vote in April 2022 and has since waged an unprecedented campaign of defiance against the country’s powerful military and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
Khan’s party says the military and his political rivals rigged the Feb. 8 general election to form the Sharif-led government. Both deny the charge.
Pakistan says over 20,000 companies and freelancers have registered for VPNs
- Pakistan’s interior ministry this week ordered a ban on VPNs, citing their use by militant groups
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority says VPN registration can be completed on its website
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) this week disclosed that over 20,000 companies and freelancers have so far registered for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) through its official website, days after it announced banning illegal ones.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior sent a letter to the PTA on Friday asking it to block illegal VPNs across the country, citing their use by militant groups for financial transactions and violent activities.
This directive follows international criticism of Pakistan’s Internet restrictions, notably after the February general elections, where allegations of electoral manipulation led to the blocking of social media platform X. Media reports also suggested the government was setting up a national firewall, which had led to the slowdown of Internet speed across Pakistan.
“To date, more than 20,000 companies and freelancers have successfully registered their VPNs through this efficient process,” the PTA said in a statement on Saturday.
The PTA said it had streamlined the VPN registration process for organizations and freelancers, saying that entities such as software houses, call centers, banks, embassies, and freelancers can now easily register their VPNs online through the PTA’s official website: www.pta.gov.pk.
It said the registration process involves completing an online form and providing basic details, including the national identity card number, company registration details and taxpayer status.
Meanwhile, it said freelancers must submit documentation, such as a letter or email, verifying their project or company association. Additionally, it said applicants must provide the IP address for VPN connectivity. If a fixed IP address is required, it can be acquired from an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
“The registration process is free, and approvals are typically granted within 8–10 hours of submission,” the PTA said.
After the interior ministry circulated its letter calling for a ban on VPNs on Friday, the Council of Islamic Ideology, a constitutional advisory body that reviews laws to ensure they align with Islamic principles, also declared VPNs usage “un-Islamic” in a statement the same day.
“The government and the state have the authority, from an Islamic perspective, to prevent all actions that lead to wrongdoing or facilitate it,” the council’s chairman, Raghib Hussain Naeemi, was quoted as saying in the statement.
“Therefore, measures to block or restrict access to immoral and offensive content, including the banning of VPNs, are in accordance with Shariah.”
VPN users in Pakistan have already reported significant disruptions to services since last weekend, with issues relating to connectivity and restricted access.
Pakistan’s decision to impose online restrictions have been questioned by free speech activists and businesses alike.
PREDA, Pakistan’s first membership-based organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of professionals, also wrote a letter to the government earlier in the day, appealing for the adoption of stable digital policies to support growth and build an eco system for global competitiveness.
Pakistan says ‘fully prepared’ to host Champions Trophy tournament amid India row
- PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi meets English counterpart in London to discuss Champions Trophy tournament
- India has refused to travel to Pakistan for Feb. 9-Mar. 19 tournament next year due to political tensions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi this week reiterated that the country was “fully prepared” to host the Champions Trophy cricket tournament next year, despite India’s refusal to send its cricket team to the neighboring country.
Pakistan is scheduled to host the Feb. 19-Mar. 9 Champions Trophy 2025 tournament. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) last week informed Pakistan that India had declined to play any games in Pakistan. The PCB has sought clarification from the ICC on the refusal.
India has not sent its cricket team to Pakistan since 2008 due to political tensions between the two countries. Pakistan was forced to agree to a “hybrid” model for the 2023 Asia Cup through which all of India’s matches were shifted to Sri Lanka. Pakistan has said it will not agree to a similar model for the Champions Trophy.
“Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan is fully prepared for the ICC Champions Trophy tournament,” state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Friday.
Naqvi said this in London after meeting England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Richard Thompson on Saturday.
Thompson expressed his best wishes to the PCB chairman for the upcoming tournament, the state broadcaster said.
“He said England’s recent visit to Pakistan was a wonderful experience,” Radio Pakistan reported.
Speaking about Pakistan renovating its stadiums ahead of the multi-nation tournament next year, Naqvi said the venues are being upgraded with modern facilities.
While India’s presence is crucial to the commercial success of the ICC event, Pakistan might pull out of the tournament should it be shifted out of the country, the Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday citing sources.
The ICC is in talks with the PCB and the participating boards before finalizing the schedule of the eight-team tournament.
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tour kicked off on Saturday after the trophy was displayed at Islamabad’s Pakistan Monument and Faisal Mosque landmarks.
Pakistani environmentalist turns barren wasteland into urban forest in Karachi
- In three years, Clifton Urban Forest has become home to over 700,000 trees, 140 bird species, over 100 plant varieties
- Rapid urbanization in Karachi and breakneck expansion of roads and buildings means less and less space for trees and parkland
KARACHI: Over three years ago, Masood Lohar, a passionate Pakistani environmentalist, embarked on a mission to breathe new life into a desolate 220-acre landfill on Karachi’s Clifton beach.
Today, the barren wasteland is a thriving urban forest, home to over 700,000 trees and a vibrant community of more than 140 bird species that find sanctuary in its lush greenery and an adjacent lagoon.
“This particular place was a dump site,” Lohar, 57, said as he pointed to the trees around him, the first of which he planted exactly 46 months ago.
“We cleaned the whole mess and then we started bringing soil from outside and started this plantation.”
Lohar’s aim for the site, called the Clifton Urban Forest, is to nurture it as a marine ecosystem, and it is already seeing some success as a home to over 100 plant species, including native mangroves, fruit trees like pomegranates and guavas, and hardy, drought-resistant grass varieties that thrive in Karachi’s harsh climate.
The aim of Lohar’s project is not just beautifying the port city of over 20 million, which often ranks in the world’s top ten most polluted cities. The main goal is to restore Karachi’s dwindling marine ecosystem and counterbalance rapid urbanization in the sprawling city where the breakneck expansion of roads and buildings means there is less and less space for trees and parkland.
In 2021, the World Bank estimated that Pakistan’s forest cover was 4.7797%. That compares with 24% in neighboring India and 14.5% in Bangladesh. Lohar believes said afforestation projects like the one he has started could help make Karachi more resilient against natural disasters and encourage wildlife to settle.
The city, home to the Malir and Lyari rivers, once boasted a network of creeks, lagoons, and estuaries, many of them destroyed or severely degraded over the decades by industrial development and unchecked urban sprawl. The Obhayo Lagoon, once the largest in the area, has all but vanished, while other water bodies have been cut off from the sea, reducing biodiversity and making the city more vulnerable to environmental hazards.
Lohar’s initiative has helped restore a fragment of this ecosystem by reviving a small portion of the Obhayo Lagoon.
“Now you can see that it is providing the services of a lagoon,” said the environmentalist, who has documented the sightings of 140 bird species, including lesser and greater flamingos and Siberian ducks, at the Lagoon since he launched the restoration project.
The forest is now also teeming with insects, honey bees, and native beetles, with the small creatures playing an essential role in pollination and supporting the growth of various plants and trees in the area.
Lohar’s commitment to the environment is deeply personal. A former UN program professional who worked for UNDP from 2006-2020, he witnessed and studied firsthand worsening air quality and environmental degradation in Pakistan’s urban centers.
“I knew at that time that the time will come,” he said, referring to now record-high air pollution levels in Pakistan, particularly in cities like Lahore and Karachi.
“You see, the Pakistani cities at this moment are fighting for their breath because the air quality is getting worse and worse.”
Lohar wants to provide shade for residents seeking escape from rising temperatures — a heatwave in 2015 killed more than 400 people in the city in three days, and temperatures in the surrounding Sindh region reached record highs this year.
Experts say afforestation can also provide relief from heatwaves, with the sea breeze getting hotter as it passes through concrete structures while roadways and rooftops absorb heat.
“The other problem is [seasonal] heatwaves because concrete is the dominant outlook of our cities,” Lohar said.
Urban forests like the one Lohar has created are part of the solution, he said.
Mangroves, in particular, have proven highly effective in sequestering carbon and Lohar estimates that his urban forest, a combination of mangroves and terrestrial trees, captures 6,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the emissions of nearly 1,300 cars.
Yet despite its success, Lohar’s project faces significant challenges, particularly from real estate development.
Karachi’s rapid urbanization has increased pressure on open spaces, with developers eyeing every available inch for construction. The urban forest itself is at risk from a development project being carried out by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), which Lohar is worried could destroy over 300,000 of the forest’s mangroves.
“I’m not sure how that will unfold in the course of time and impact this marine ecosystem project, but I’m sure that it will definitely stress this project,” Lohar said, gesturing toward a marine wall under construction.
“I have gone through a lot of difficulties and resources-wise and the indifference of the corporate sector and the government brings us on the verge of giving up.”
Director General KDA Altaf Gohar Memon did not respond to calls seeking comment for this story. Local government minister Saeed Ghani did not respond to Arab News’ requests for comment.
Yasir Husain, an environmentalist and founder of the Climate Action Center, said that projects like the Clifton Urban Forest were vital, though such initiatives were insufficient to address the broader environmental challenges faced by Pakistan.
“These are just [pilot projects], and the city’s challenge is enormous,” he told Arab News, adding that finding a bird sanctuary in such a stressed environment was a gratifying experience.
“These are tiny projects, if you look at it from a macro perspective of the whole city, but they’re experiments,” he continued, appreciating that urban forests were maintained despite such challenging circumstances.
Experts call for action as NASA imagery shows ominous smog cloud over Lahore, New Delhi
- Met Office expects smog to persist until mid-December and extend to areas in southern Punjab
- Pakistani official, experts dismiss the claim that smog affecting Lahore is originating from India
KARACHI: Climate experts on Saturday raised alarms over NASA’s latest satellite imagery, which revealed a dense layer of smog stretching between Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s New Delhi, underscoring the severity of an environmental crisis that Pakistan’s meteorological department expects to persist until mid-December and extend to southern Punjab.
Toxic smog has enveloped several cities in the country’s most populous province, particularly Lahore, for over a month, driven by cold air trapping dust, diesel fumes and smoke from illegal stubble burning. In response, the provincial administration has closed schools, restricted heavy transport on specific days and banned access to public spaces such as parks and playgrounds.
The International Air Quality Index classifies values over 300 as hazardous, yet Lahore has consistently recorded alarmingly high levels, reaching up to 1,900 in certain areas in November.
On Saturday, the Punjab government conducted an artificial rain trial using local technology to combat the deteriorating air quality. The development followed days after NASA’s satellite imagery showed a massive gray cloud of smog blanketing Punjab and extending into neighboring India, including New Delhi.
Speaking to Arab News, Pakistan’s Chief Meteorologist, Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, said the visibility of smog from space highlighted its severity.
“This heavy smog in Lahore, which has now extended to south Punjab, is expected to persist until mid-December as no significant rainfall is predicted in the coming weeks,” he said while predicting its movement to southern parts of the province.
“According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 43 percent of pollution is attributed to transportation, while 25 percent is due to industry,” he continued. “However, the Punjab government’s Urban Unit report suggests that transportation, which has seen a substantial increase, contributes 83 percent of pollution.”
Sarfaraz noted until concrete measures were taken to curb these two major sources of emissions, the situation was likely to continue.
He also dismissed the claim that smog affecting Pakistan was mostly originating from India, blaming the local factors for the situation.
“With no rainfall, the moisture generated under these conditions will condense, leading to smog formation, no matter if it stops coming from anywhere,” he explained.
Yasir Hussain, a climate expert and founder of the Climate Action Center, said that NASA’s image and ground-level observations painted a “dangerous” picture.
“This is extremely dangerous for all inhabitants of this area,” he said, adding that air quality was deteriorating year after year.
“Urgent measures are needed to address the primary source of pollution: vehicles burning petrol and diesel,” he added.
Nadeem Mirbahar, a climate expert, emphasized to deal with the local factors causing the problem.
“There was an opinion that smog from India combines with local pollutants to intensify the problem,” he said. “However, a recent study by the Punjab government has identified local sources, primarily transportation, as major contributors.”
“If there’s an Indian or external factor, a specific strategy can be devised for it in long run,” he added. “But the immediate priority lies in addressing local issues.”
Mirbahar maintained air quality exceeding 350 was “catastrophic” and posed serious health risks to vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, patients and the working classes.
“Transportation should be regulated by minimizing its use along with long-term solutions like transitioning to electric vehicles,” he continued. “Increased plantation can also help reduce smog levels over time.”
“The air quality will not improve if pollution-related activities linger,” he added. “Only sustained and significant rainfall can alleviate the situation.”
