ISLAMABAD: Days after US negotiators announced they were on the “threshold” of a peace agreement with the Taliban in Doha, the Afghan militant group on Saturday defended attacks on American and foreign forces and said the violence would continue until a cease-fire was agreed to.
In a surge of violence that has cast doubt over the near-conclusive peace negotiations between the US and Taliban, the insurgent group stepped up attacks on foreign and Afghan forces in the capital city of Kabul and other areas in Afghanistan in recent days.
“There is no agreement with the Americans that we will not carry out attacks. But when the peace agreement is signed, (we) will honor whatever decisions are made in the agreement,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Arab News on Saturday, in a series of audio messages.
“If the agreement is reached to halt attacks, then (we) will stage no attacks, but there is no such deal with the Americans so far,” he said, and added, “Fighting to continue and we are in a state of war. We show response to the American attacks.”
On Thursday, the NATO-led military alliance said an American soldier and Romanian soldier were killed in action in Kabul, raising the death toll of American soldiers in Afghanistan to 16 this year.
As well as attacks on the northern cities of Kunduz and Pul-e Khumri, the Taliban have carried out two major suicide bombings in the capital Kabul over the past week, as chief US negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad, held consultations over the peace agreement.
After showing the draft agreement to President Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders, Khalilzad was back in the Qatari capital on Friday along with General Scott Miller, the top US commander in Afghanistan, to continue talks with the Taliban, who said the meeting had gone well.
According to Taliban political spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban and US officials had “positive and excellent progress” in the two days of talks in Qatar with the Taliban political chief, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, leading the group’s talks with Khalilzad.
Khalilzad has long been demanding a cease-fire, and according to the agreement, a full peace settlement to end more than 18 years of war will depend on subsequent “intra Afghan” talks. But the Taliban have refused to speak to the Afghan civilian government, rejected calls for a cease-fire and instead stepped up operations across the country in what they say, are ‘revenge attacks.”
“The enemy, the Americans, have also continued attacks. You will be aware that they conduct raids in different provinces of the country, on the people, civilian places, markets, mosques, religious schools, clinics, and houses...destroyed in air strikes,” Mujahid said.
“Many Afghans, including children and women, are martyred and the Americans are directly involved in these incidents. Their aircraft, their soldiers are involved. We will carry out revenge attacks when they launch attacks,” the Taliban spokesman said.
On Saturday, US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said that after the surge in violence, Washington would not accept just any deal while it was seeking a political agreement with the Taliban.
Presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi tweeted on Wednesday that Kabul has concerns about the outcome of the Taliban-US agreement on how to “counter the possible dangers after the US-Taliban deal.”
As Afghan society reels from the aftermaths of the attacks, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is set to travel to Washington in the next week to meet with US officials, the Washington Post reported on Saturday.
Last month, the Afghan government announced the formation of a 15 member team for intra-Afghan talks, but their names have not yet been made public.
’No agreement with US so far, fighting to continue,’ say Taliban
’No agreement with US so far, fighting to continue,’ say Taliban
- Death toll of American soldiers in Afghanistan this year reaches 16
- Taliban defend surge in violence as “revenge attacks” against American raids
One killed, 15 injured in southwestern Pakistan as IED blast targets Punjab-bound bus
- Pakistan army soldiers among 15 injured in blast, says paramilitary force Levies official
- No group has claimed responsibility for attack but suspicion likely to fall on separatist BLA
QUETTA: One person was killed while 15 others, including army soldiers, were injured in southwestern Pakistan on Sunday when a passenger bus headed toward Pakistan’s Punjab province was targeted by an improvised explosive device, (IED) an official of the paramilitary Levies force said.
The blast occurred in Khori, a small town located at a distance of 40 kilometers from Khuzdar city in southwestern Balochistan province, Ali Nawaz, a Levies official in Khori, told Arab News.
He said the bus was headed to the eastern city of Rawalpindi from Khuzdar when it was targeted by an IED blast fitted in a vehicle parked on the M-8 highway at 9:30 am.
“One passenger was killed on the spot while 15 were injured,” Nawaz told Arab News. “Initial investigations by police have revealed that around 25 kilograms of explosive material were used in the attack, which destroyed one side of the passenger bus.”
Nawaz said the injured have been shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) hospital and the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Khuzdar.
“Soldiers of Pakistan’s armed forces are among the injured who were traveling in the bus,” he said, without specifying how many of the injured were soldiers.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast. However, the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed killing ethnic Punjabi laborers in the past.
BLA militants claimed responsibility for killing at least 23 residents of Punjab in Balochistan’s Musakhel district in August 2024. The victims were forced out of their vehicles by the militants, who shot them after checking their identity.
Simultaneous attacks were also launched on the same day that killed over 50 in one of the deadliest attacks in Balochistan in recent years.
Balochistan, a mineral-rich province that shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, has faced an insurgency for decades which has intensified in recent years.
Baloch separatist groups and nationalist political leaders accuse the central government in Islamabad of exploiting the province’s natural resources such as gold and copper while neglecting the local population.
Successive Pakistani governments have denied the allegations, saying they have prioritized Balochistan’s development through investments in health, education and infrastructure projects.
Earlier this month the BLA targeted a convoy of paramilitary soldiers in the province’s Turbat city with a vehicle-borne bomb. Five Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were killed in the attack.
Imran Khan calls on overseas Pakistanis to halt remittances amid renewed political tensions
- In social media post, ex-PM Khan calls for nationwide protests on Feb. 8 anniversary of Pakistan election
- Pakistan’s government blames Khan and his party for breakdown of negotiations to ease political tensions
ISLAMABAD: Jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Sunday reiterated his demand for overseas Pakistanis to boycott sending remittances to the country, amid renewed political tensions between his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the government.
The development takes place as talks between the government and the PTI that began last month broke down this week. Talks were suspended after Khan’s party told the government it would not partake in the process if judicial commissions to investigate anti-government protests of May 9, 2023 and November 2024 are not formed.
On May 9, 2023, angry Khan supporters are accused of rampaging through military offices and installations while on Nov. 26, 2024, they gathered in Pakistan’s capital to demand Khan’s release. The government says four troops were killed in the November protests while the PTI says its supporters also died in clashes.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar this week criticized the PTI for ending talks “unilaterally,” saying the party took the decision in a hurry. The government’s negotiation committee says it will respond to the PTI’s demands formally on Jan. 28.
“Once again, I urge overseas Pakistanis to continue their boycott of foreign currency remittances,” a post on Khan’s X account read. “Sending money to this government strengthens the very hands that are tightening the noose around your necks.”
Foreign workers’ remittances from countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, US, UK and others are important for cash-strapped Pakistan to shore up its foreign reserves and stabilize its fragile economy.
Khan also repeated his demand for supporters to mark Pakistan’s election anniversary on Feb. 8 as a “Black Day.” The PTI alleges that the results of the contentious election last year, marked by delayed vote results and suspension of Internet and mobile services countrywide, were manipulated by the caretaker government at the time and Pakistan’s election commission to keep it away from power. Both deny Khan’s allegations
“Prepare to observe a nationwide ‘Black Day’ on February 8th,” the post read. “People from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Punjab should gather in Swabi for protests, while others must hold demonstrations in their respective cities.”
Khan was ousted from power in 2022 after what is widely believed to be a falling out with the country’s powerful top generals. The army denies it interferes in politics.
He has been in prison since August 2023 and faces a slew of legal challenges that ruled him out of the Feb. 8 general elections and which he says are politically motivated to keep him and his party away from power.
Khan has either been acquitted or his sentences have been suspended in most cases. However, in the latest blow, Khan was handed a 14-year jail sentence in a land corruption case last week.
All cases against Khan have been tried inside prison, away from the public or media eye, on security grounds.
Brathwaite half century lifts West Indies to 129-5 against Pakistan
- West Indies extend slender nine-run first-innings lead to 138 at break
- Pakistan won first Test match in Multan by 127 runs to go 1-0 up in series
MULTAN, Pakistan: Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite hit a fighting half century Saturday to lead the West Indies to 129-5 at lunch on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan in Multan.
The tourists negotiated Pakistan’s spin attack aggressively to take their slender nine-run first-innings lead to 138 at the break in their bid to pull off a series-levelling win.
Pakistan lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 127 runs, also in Multan.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali brought Pakistan back in the game with 4-59, trapping Alick Athanaze leg before for six on the cusp of lunch, while Justin Greaves was unbeaten on five.
With the Multan Stadium pitch offering slow spin in comparison to day one, Brathwaite led the way with two sixes and four boundaries in his 31st Test half century.
Noman broke the solid 50-run opening stand by dismissing Mikyle Louis for seven after the tourists started their second innings in the morning.
Brathwaite overturned two leg before decisions against him before he was stumped by Mohammad Rizwan off Noman for a well-made 52.
Debutant Amir Jangoo also batted well for his 30 with three boundaries, before Sajid Khan had him caught in the slips by Salman Agha.
Kavem Hodge was stumped by Rizwan off Noman for 15 as the West Indies slumped from 92-1 to 129-5.
Pakistan Association Dubai hosts climate action event to promote sustainable solutions
- Pakistan is counted among world’s Pakistan is counted among world’s most severely threatened countries due to climate change effects most severely threatened countries due to climate change effects
- Event brings together climate activists, advocates and youth leaders to discuss climate challenges
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) this week organized a climate action event in the city to promote sustainable solutions and highlight the dangers of deteriorating weather patterns, the Pakistani embassy in the UAE said.
The event on Friday was a collaboration between community climate action platform Extreme Hangout Dubai, social enterprise Earth Warriors and the Pakistan Youth Forum.
It featured climate advocates and members of the Pakistani community in the UAE, and Pakistan’s Consul General in Dubai Hussain Muhammad.
“Pakistan remains committed to be part of the solution,” Muhammad was quoted as saying by the Pakistani embassy in UAE. “However, global solidarity, climate finance, and technology transfer are essential to tackling this crisis.”
The event featured entrepreneurial stalls showcasing innovative eco-friendly solutions, keynote speeches and panel discussions by experts, activists and youth leaders who engaged in insightful discussions on climate action strategies and the importance of collective efforts.
The event also included performances and artistic presentations highlighting the beauty of nature and the necessity of preserving it for future generations.
“The Consul General encouraged the Pakistani community in the UAE to act as global ambassadors for Pakistan’s climate challenges through storytelling, social media and community engagement to raise awareness and bring change,” the embassy’s statement said.
The South Asian country is counted among the most severely threatened countries in terms of climate–induced challenges, especially in the context of its dependency on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, natural resources and the environment, and socio-economic issues such as poverty.
Unusually heavy monsoon rains and melting of glaciers in June 2022 triggered flash floods across the country which killed over 1,700 people and dealt damages to critical infrastructure across the country.
Pakistan estimates damages from the floods to be around $33 billion.
Over 3,000 Pakistani, overseas athletes expected to take part in Islamabad Marathon today
- Marathon to feature five categories: full marathon, half marathon, children’s race, family race and senior race
- A prize money of Rs1 million [$3594] has been allocated for winners of all categories, says marathon organizer
ISLAMABAD: Over 3,000 athletes from Pakistan and abroad are expected to take part in a running marathon in Pakistan’s capital today, Sunday, state-run media reported.
Organized by the Islamabad Run With Us (IRU) running community in the capital, the marathon will feature five categories: a full marathon, a half marathon, a children’s race, a family race and a senior race.
The IRU says it has organized over 700 complimentary community events and numerous races, adding that it launched the Islamabad Marathon event in 2020.
“Founder of the Islamabad Run with Us community, Qasim Naz announced on Friday that the fifth Islamabad Marathon will take place on January 26, with the participation of over 3,000 athletes from across Pakistan and abroad,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said.
Naz said a prize money of Rs1 million [$3594] has been allocated for winners of all categories of the marathon.
The marathon kicked off at the city’s newly built Iran Avenue at 9:00 am. Its route includes the GT Road and runners will have to return to the starting point, the organizer said.
Naz said a pitch system would be introduced to ensure transparency, enabling real-time tracking of athletes and accurate identification of winners.
“He said that the purpose of organizing the event is to showcase Pakistan’s soft image and highlight the country’s beauty to the world,” APP said.
Naz said arrangements for medical and other facilities for participants have been made with cooperation from the district administration and police.
