Search operation underway as Pakistan’s Ali Sadpara, two others missing on K2

This photograph released by Nepalese mountaineer Chhang Dawa Sherpa shows Pakistan Army's helicopter searching for the three mountaineers, who went missing during a K2 winter summit attempt, on Feb. 6, 2021. (Photo courtesy: @ChhangDawa/Twitter)
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Updated 07 February 2021
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Search operation underway as Pakistan’s Ali Sadpara, two others missing on K2

  • ‘In case I’m stuck on the mountain, I can survive for days without food’ Ali Sadpara told friend in 2019
  • Sadpara’s son, Sajid, safely descended to the base camp after waiting for his father at Camp III for over 20 hours

ISLAMABAD/ GILGIT: A rescue operation was launched Saturday morning for three climbers who have not been in contact with base camp since Friday during a K2 winter summit attempt, according to a senior official of Pakistan’s Alpine Club. 

Pakistan’s Ali Sadpara, Iceland's John Snorri and Chile's JP Mohr Prieto have been missing since Friday, though false news of their summit of K2 flooded social and mainstream media in Pakistan the same day. 

“Rescue has started and army helicopters are engaged,” General Secretary of the Alpine Club, Karrar Haidri, told Arab News on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, Sajid Sadpara, the fourth mountaineer on the expedition and Ali Sadpara’s son, who had begun an earlier descent due to his oxygen regulator malfunctioning, safely arrived at the base camp, announced Dawa Sherpa, a Nepalese mountaineer, in a Twitter post on Saturday evening. 




A collage of Pakistan’s Ali Sadpara (L), Chile’s John Snorri (C) and Iceland’s JP Mohr Prieto (R).

The three missing mountaineers were last seen at the infamous K2 bottleneck by Sajid Sadpara at 10 am on Friday. He waited over 20 hours for his father and team members to reach Camp III, but there has been no sign of them. 

Meanwhile, tales of Ali Sadpara’s heroism began surfacing. 

“In case I’m stuck on the mountain, I can stay in a snow room and I can survive for a few days without food and other things,” Ali Sadpara told a close friend, Shamshad Hussain, in 2019. 

“Ali is a mountain here,” Hussain, who runs a well known touring company in Skardu called Asia Trek and Tours, told Arab News on Saturday. 

“He knew how to keep (alive) during the hardest things. We are praying for his safe return, we believe he is in safe hands,” he said. 

On Saturday morning, Ali Sadpara’s management tweeted from his Twitter account: 

“We are still waiting for Ali, John Snorri and JP Mohr to get in contact. While precautionary measures are being undertaken in case of a rescue being necessary. Last communication b/w sajid and base camp was at 01:00am and 04:00 am. Prayers.” 

Dawa Sherpa mentioned on his Facebook page that an army helicopter made a search flight almost up to 7,000 meters before returning to Skardu since there was no trace of the missing climbers. 

He added that weather condition was even getting poor at the base camp and it was not possible to continue with the search and rescue operation due to strong winds. 

On January 16, a group of Nepalese climbers made history by summiting the world’s second tallest mountain in winter. 

K2 is frequently described as “savage mountain” since a large number of climbers — 86 in all — have lost their lives trying to summit it. 

On Friday, a 43-year-old Bulgarian mountaineer fell to his death while trying to summit K2, which is the world’s second tallest peak. It was the third death on K2 this season.


Taliban hang up Kalashnikovs to pen memoirs of Afghan war

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Taliban hang up Kalashnikovs to pen memoirs of Afghan war

  • Most Afghan war accounts are from a Western perspective, covering 9/11 to the Taliban’s 2021 return
  • Taliban-authored books praising the group’s ‘victories’ now shape the dominant narrative within Afghanistan

KABUL: Since trading the battlefield for Afghanistan’s halls of power, some Taliban members have also swapped their weapons for pens to tell their version of the 20-year conflict with Western forces, who they accuse of distorting “reality.”

A flood of books has been written, mostly from a Western perspective, about the war between the US-led forces that invaded Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 attacks until the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

But in the years since, a proliferation of writings by Taliban figures — praising their exploits and the achievements of the “Islamic Emirate” — is now the reigning narrative in Afghanistan.

“No matter what foreigners have written... they have largely ignored the reality of what happened to us and why we were forced to fight,” author Khalid Zadran told AFP.

A member of the Haqqani network — long viewed as one of the most dangerous militant factions in Afghanistan — he now serves as the spokesman for the capital’s police force.

In his 600-page tome in Pashto published in April, he recounts US incursions in his home province of Khost, his childhood steeped in stories of soldiers’ “atrocities,” and his desire to join the Taliban in the name of his country’s “freedom.”

“I witnessed horrific stories every day — mangled bodies on the roadside,” he writes in “15 Minutes,” a title inspired by a US drone strike he narrowly escaped.

Muhajer Farahi, now a deputy information and culture minister, penned his “Memories of Jihad: 20 Years in Occupation” to “state the facts,” he said.

“America, contrary to its claims, has committed cruel and barbaric acts, destroyed our country with bombs, destroyed infrastructure and has sown discord and cynicism between nations and tribes,” he told AFP from his office in central Kabul.

Little attention is paid in either book to the thousands of civilians killed in Taliban attacks — many of them suicide bombings that entrenched fear across the country for nearly two decades.

Farahi insists the Taliban “were cautious in saving civilians and innocent” lives, while criticising fellow Afghans who collaborated with the pro-Western police as a “stain” on the country.

Rights groups accuse the current Taliban authorities of widespread abuses — particularly against women and girls, who the United Nations say are victims of what amounts to “gender apartheid.”

In his book published in 2023, Farahi claims the Taliban attempted to negotiate — in vain, he insists — with the United States over the fate of Osama bin Laden, whose capture or death Washington demanded after his plane hijackers killed around 3,000 people in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, who had been based in Afghanistan, was killed by US forces in Pakistan in 2011.

“It was clear... that the Americans had already planned the occupation of Afghanistan,” writes Farahi in the English version of his book, which has been translated into five languages.

In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Afghans thought it would “have nothing to do with our country,” he continues, but soon realized that Afghanistan would face “punishment.”

For 20 years, the war pitted Taliban militants against a US-led coalition of 38 countries supporting the Afghan Republic and its forces.

Tens of thousands of Afghans died in the fighting and in Taliban attacks, as did nearly 6,000 foreign soldiers, including 2,400 Americans.

For Farahi, the war reflects the West’s desire to “impose its culture and ideology on other nations.”

His disjointed journal mixes battlefield memories with polemical chapters railing against the American “bloodthirsty dragon.”

The book “reveals the truths that were not told before because the media, especially the Western media, presented a different picture of the war,” he said.

According to him, the mujahideen, or holy warriors, despite being far less equipped, were able to rely on their unity and God’s aid to achieve victory.

Only a few of the new wave of Taliban books have been autobiographies, which appeal to an audience seeking to understand the war “from the inside,” according to Zadran.

His book, initially 2,000 copies in Pashto, sold out quickly and another 1,000 are in the works — along with a Dari-language version, he said.

Many chapters mention Bowe Bergdahl, the US soldier held hostage for five years by the Haqqani network.

He recounts treks through the mountains along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border to move him between hideouts, efforts to convert him to Islam and conversations about his girlfriend back in the US.

Both accounts end in 2021, before the transformation of the fighters who moved from remote mountain hideouts to the carpeted offices of the capital.

There, their battle has turned diplomatic: the Taliban are now fighting for international recognition of their government.

“The war is over now,” Farahi said, “and we want good relations with everyone” — even with the “bloodthirsty dragon.”


Sadiq Khan, son of Pakistani immigrants, receives knighthood from King Charles

Updated 49 min 42 sec ago
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Sadiq Khan, son of Pakistani immigrants, receives knighthood from King Charles

  • Khan, who grew up in south London, is the son of a bus driver and a seamstress
  • He is London’s first Muslim mayor and has won three consecutive terms in office

ISLAMABAD: London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the son of Pakistani immigrants, was awarded a knighthood by King Charles III for public service, a recognition he described on Tuesday as a “truly humbling moment” for himself and his family.
Khan, who grew up on a council estate in Tooting, south London, is the son of a bus driver and a seamstress.

A trained human rights lawyer, he made history in 2016 by becoming the first Muslim mayor of London, and was re-elected for a third term last year, a rare feat in British politics.

His trajectory from modest beginnings to high office has often been cited as emblematic of London’s multiculturalism and opportunity.

“The London promise: if you work hard, and get a helping hand, you can achieve anything,” Khan posted on X. “Immensely proud to receive a knighthood from His Majesty The King. Growing up on a council estate in Tooting, I never imagined I’d one day receive this great honor while serving as Mayor.”

“It’s a truly humbling moment for myself & my family, & one I hope inspires others to believe in the opportunities our great capital offers,” he added. “I’ll forever be honored to serve the city I love – & will continue to do all I can to build a fairer, safer, greener London for everyone.”

53-year-old Khan has built a reputation as an outspoken advocate for progressive causes, including climate action, affordable housing and inclusivity, often clashing with national-level Conservative leaders.

Despite political headwinds, he remains broadly popular in one of the world’s most diverse cities.

In 2018, Pakistan awarded him the Sitara-e-Pakistan, the country’s third-highest civilian award, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen UK-Pakistan relations and promote community cohesion.


Pakistani man who allegedly plotted US attack extradited from Canada

Updated 58 min 22 sec ago
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Pakistani man who allegedly plotted US attack extradited from Canada

  • Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, was arrested in Canada last year in September
  • Officials say he was planning a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York

NEW YORK: A Pakistani man was extradited from Canada to the United States on Tuesday to face charges of plotting to carry out an attack on Jews in New York City, the Justice Department said.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested in Canada in September.
According to a criminal complaint, Khan planned to travel to New York and carry out a mass shooting in support of Daesh, also known as the Islamic State (IS), at a Jewish center in Brooklyn on the October 7 anniversary of the deadly 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
“He planned to use automatic weapons to kill as many members of our Jewish community as possible, all in support of IS,” US Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement.
Khan allegedly revealed his plans in conversations with conspirators who were actually undercover law enforcement officers, the Justice Department said.
He was taken into custody by Canadian authorities in the municipality of Ormstown some 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the US-Canada border.
Khan is charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempting to commit acts of terrorism.
He could face a maximum of life in prison if convicted.


US confirms Trump’s willingness to mediate Kashmir dispute after India-Pakistan ceasefire

Updated 11 June 2025
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US confirms Trump’s willingness to mediate Kashmir dispute after India-Pakistan ceasefire

  • State Department says US president has taken steps to resolve ‘generational conflicts’ across the world
  • It also confirms meetings of a Pakistani parliamentary delegation with officials in Washington recently

ISLAMABAD: The United States on Tuesday said President Donald Trump would like to mediate between India and Pakistan over the decades-old Kashmir dispute, describing such a move as consistent with his desire to resolve “generational” conflicts around the world.

The comment follows a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, announced by the US president on May 10 after a brief but intense military standoff involving fighter jets, missiles, drones and artillery fire.

While tensions have eased, longstanding issues remain unresolved.

The US informed last month after the ceasefire announcement both India and Pakistan had agreed to meet at a neutral venue to address their differences, though New Delhi has so far publicly ruled out bilateral talks with Islamabad.

“I can’t speak to what’s on the mind or the plans of the President,” said State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce in response to a question about the American president’s offer to mediate after the ceasefire.

“What I do know is that I think we all recognize that President Trump in each step that he takes, it’s made to solve generational differences between countries, generational war,” she continued. “So it doesn’t – it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he’d want to manage something like that.”

Bruce maintained Trump had the ability to bring enemies “to the table to have conversations that nobody thought was possible.”

She added that she hoped “something like that” could be resolved during the current American administration’s term in office, referring to the Kashmir dispute.

In a related development, the State Department spokesperson confirmed a Pakistani parliamentary delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met last week with senior State Department officials, including Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker.

While she did not reveal details of the discussions, Bruce said the talks covered counterterrorism cooperation and US support for the India-Pakistan ceasefire.

The Pakistani delegation is currently visiting key global capitals to present Islamabad’s perspective on the limited war with India while lobbying the international community to press India to return to dialogue over Kashmir and other issues.
 


Pakistan targets passive incomes, foreign e-commerce in push for $50 billion tax haul

Updated 11 June 2025
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Pakistan targets passive incomes, foreign e-commerce in push for $50 billion tax haul

  • Pakistan plans to impose digital tax on foreign vendors, including Chinese e-commerce platforms
  • Local trade bodies call the revenue collection target ‘unrealistic’ amid mixed budget response

KARACHI: The government has “gone heavy” on taxing passive incomes and foreign online vendors, including Chinese e-commerce platforms, said an economic expert Tuesday, as it seeks to raise over Rs14 trillion ($50 billion) in taxes in the next fiscal year, an ambitious target trade bodies have criticized as “unrealistic.”

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had unveiled Pakistan’s Rs17.6 trillion ($62 billion) federal budget for 2025-26 earlier in the day, saying the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would target Rs14.13 trillion in tax collection, which is nine percent higher than the outgoing year’s target.

“The government has gone heavy in terms of taxes on passive income like tax on bank deposits income has gone up,” Shankar Talreja, director research at the Topline Securities, told Arab News.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration is aiming for 4.2 percent GDP growth and a fiscal deficit of 3.9 percent in line with commitments made to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during recent negotiations.

The IMF has pushed Pakistan to broaden its tax base, including income from retail, agriculture and real estate sectors, while ensuring social protection and priority spending.

Talreja called the new budget a “continuation of fiscal discipline.” His comments referred to the government’s plan to increase tax on interest income by five percentage points to 20 percent, excluding income from the National Savings Scheme.

With one of the region’s lowest tax-to-GDP ratios, Pakistan is under pressure to raise it to 14 percent under the IMF’s $7 billion loan program.

DIGITAL TAX ON FOREIGN VENDORS

In a first, the government plans to introduce the Digital Presence Proceeds Tax Act, 2025, to tax income earned by foreign vendors operating in Pakistan’s digital space.

“This is specific to foreign vendors, i.e. Chinese e-commerce websites,” Talreja said, referring to platforms like Temu. He added those buying from such vendors could also face an additional five percent tax.

Aurangzeb said banks, financial institutions and licensed exchange companies would collect the tax on transactions involving goods or services provided by foreign traders within the Pakistani domain.

“Essentially this is to be paid by vendors, but let’s see if they pass it on to consumers,” Talreja said, noting the move could fuel inflation if the tax burden is transferred. “Nonetheless, items coming through foreign vendors doesn’t hold a major pie in inflation basket.”

FBR OVERHAUL

Aurangzeb also announced an FBR transformation plan to address Pakistan’s estimated Rs5.5 trillion tax gap, nearly half of its potential receipts. Talreja emphasized the significance of the move, saying it was part of the government’s plan to raise the tax-to-GDP ratio from 10 to 14 percent.

“It is not possible [for the government] to stabilize the economy and achieve national targets without transforming the FBR,” he continued.

To clamp down on non-compliant businesses, the government plans to freeze bank accounts, block property transfers, and seal premises of unregistered entities evading sales tax.

Withholding tax on bank transactions by non-filers has been raised to one percent from 0.6 percent, and tax on e-commerce transactions doubled to two percent.

SMUGGLING AND SOLAR IMPORTS

The FBR will be empowered to confiscate goods lacking original tax stamps or barcodes under its track and trace system, with the aim of curbing smuggling, especially in tobacco, and supporting the formal industry.

“These measures send a clear message that the law-abiding people and companies will get facilities and the tax defaulters will be made accountable effectively,” Aurangzeb said during his budget speech.

The government will also apply 18 percent sales tax on online traders operating through courier and logistics firms to ensure parity with traditional retailers. Imported solar panels will face the same tax, a move designed to protect local manufacturers.

CUSTOMS REFORMS AND RELIEF MEASURES

Proposed customs reforms include new laws to promote pre-arrival clearance of goods and reduce port delays and litigation.

To support businesses, the government has offered a 0.5 percent reduction in super tax on income slabs between Rs200 million ($708,692) and Rs500 million ($1.78 million), according to JS Global Capital’s initial review.

The 15 percent capital gains tax on stocks remains unchanged, but a 25 percent tax will apply to income from loans to encourage investment in equities. Withholding tax on property purchases has been lowered by 1.5 percent across various slabs.

According to Talreja, the measures aim to ensure the government does not exceed its 3.9 percent fiscal deficit target, a milestone that, if achieved, would mark the lowest in 21 years.

“The ultimate objective of the government in the FY26 budget was to achieve primary surplus over 2% and total deficit of less than 4%,” he said.

BUSINESS COMMUNITY REACTS

Meanwhile, the business community’s response to the proposed tax structure remained mixed, with some trade bodies expressing concern over the government’s reliance on existing taxpayers rather than expanding the tax net.

Leaders at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), including Zubair Motiwala and Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, described the budget as a “camouflage” document that offered “no incentives for growth” and failed to reduce the high cost of doing business.

“The budget may satisfy external lenders but does not offer any practical hope for businesses or the wider population,” Motiwala said, warning that continued pressure on the formal sector could shrink economic output rather than expand it.

By contrast, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) offered a more positive reaction. President Atif Ikram Sheikh welcomed the simplification of tax return forms for small and medium enterprises along with employees, calling it “a long-standing demand of the FPCCI.”

He also praised the reduction in super tax and the abolition of duty on property transfers, though he called the increase in the tax collection target “unrealistic.”

FPCCI Senior Vice President Saqib Fayyaz Magon expressed disappointment over the taxation of e-commerce and the lack of relief packages for IT, minerals and fishing sectors.

“E-commerce should not have been taxed,” he said, adding the budget ignored several proposals submitted by the FPCCI.