ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: A Muslim immigrant from Afghanistan has been arrested as the prime suspect in the serial killings of four Muslim men that rattled the Islamic community of New Mexico’s largest city, police said on Tuesday.
After days bolstering security around Albuquerque-area mosques, seeking to allay fears of a shooter driven by anti-Muslim hate, police said on Tuesday they had arrested 51-year-old Muhammad Syed, one among the city’s Islamic immigrant community.
Authorities said the killings may have been rooted in a personal grudge, possibly with intra-Muslim sectarian overtones.
All four victims were of Afghan or Pakistani descent. One was killed in November, and the other three in the last two weeks.
A search of the suspect’s Albuquerque home uncovered “evidence that shows the offender knew the victims to some extent, and an inter-personal conflict may have led to the shootings,” police said in a statement announcing the arrest.
Investigators are still piecing together motives for the killings of the four men, Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock of the Albuquerque Police Department said at a news conference.
In response to reporters’ questions, Hartsock said sectarian animus by the suspect toward his fellow Muslim victims may have played a role in the violence. “But we’re not really clear if that was the actual motive, or if it was part of a motive, or if there is just a bigger picture that we’re missing,” he said.
Syed has a record of criminal misdemeanors in the United States, including a case of domestic violence, over the last three or four years, Hartsock said.
Police credited scores of tips from the public in helping investigators locate a car that detectives believed was used in at least one of the killings and ultimately track down the man they called their “primary suspect” in all four slayings.
Syed was formally charged with two of the homicides: those of Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, killed on July 26 and Aug. 1, respectively, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina told the briefing.
The latest victim, Nayeem Hussain, 25, a truck driver who became a US citizen on July 8, was killed on Friday, hours after attending the burial of the two men slain in July and August, both of them of Pakistani descent.
The three most recent victims all attended the Islamic Center of New Mexico, Albuquerque’s largest mosque. They were all shot near Central Avenue in southeastern Albuquerque.
The first known victim, Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, a native of Afghanistan, was killed on Nov. 7, 2021, while smoking a cigarette outside a grocery store and cafe that he ran with his brother in the southeastern part of the city.
BULLET CASINGS
Police said the two killings with which Syed was initially charged were tied together based on bullet casings found at the two murder scenes, and the gun used in those shootings was later found in his home.
According to police, detectives were preparing to search Syed’s residence in southeastern Albuquerque on Monday when he drove from the residence in the car that investigators had identified to the public a day earlier as a “vehicle of interest.”
Albuquerque and state authorities have been working to provide extra police presence at mosques during times of prayer as the investigation proceeded in the city, home to as many as 5,000 Muslims out of a total population of 565,000.
The ambush-style shootings of the men have terrified Albuquerque’s Muslim community. Families went into hiding in their homes, and some Pakistani students at the University of New Mexico left town out of fear.
Imtiaz Hussain, whose brother worked as a city planning director and was killed on Aug. 1, said news of the arrest reassured many in the Muslim community.
“My kids asked me, ‘Can we sit on our balcony now?’ and I said, ‘Yes,’ and they said, ‘Can we go out and play now?’ and I said, ‘Yes,’” he said.
Afghan immigrant arrested for killings of Pakistani Muslims that shook New Mexico’s Islamic community
https://arab.news/ng3qw
Afghan immigrant arrested for killings of Pakistani Muslims that shook New Mexico’s Islamic community
- 51-year-old Muhammad Syed has a record of criminal misdemeanors, including a case of domestic violence
- Authorities said the killings may have been rooted in a personal grudge within the city’s immigrant Muslim community
Pakistan Navy urges ‘result-oriented’ collective actions as world marks Oceans Day
- World Oceans Day is observed on June 8 each year and this year’s theme is ‘Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us’
- The navy says it is undertaking initiatives to safeguard oceans against pollution, over-fishing and climate change
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy on Sunday urged “result-oriented” collective actions to safeguard oceans against pollution, over-fishing and climate change, its Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR) said, on the occasion of the World Oceans Day.
World Oceans Day is observed on June 8 each year and this year’s theme is ‘Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,’ which resonates with the oceans’ vital role in underpinning all life on earth. Covering over 70 percent of Earth, oceans are a key source of oxygen, a regulator of climate and immeasurably support biodiversity, all of which are essential to global livelihoods.
As the principal custodian of Pakistan’s maritime domain, the navy said, it is undertaking substantive initiatives like implementing remedial measures for preventing oil spills at sea, enforcing pollution control measures and banning destructive fishing nets to encourage healthy practices and sustainable use of ocean resources.
“World Oceans Day calls upon us to move beyond the reflexive acknowledgment and take result-oriented collective actions,” the navy quoted its Public Relations director-general as saying.
“To this end, I call upon all the stakeholders to join hands with Pakistan Navy and adopt safe and sustainable practices to secure our oceans’ vitality. Collectively, we can avail this immense endowment in the shape of our rich oceans, preserve their enduring majesty and secure the lifeblood they provide, for our future generations.”
The statement came ahead of a United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference in Nice, France on June 9-13, which will not only focus on accelerating actions for conservation and sustainable use of oceans but also identify ways to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources by building partnerships.
“For Pakistan, our long coastline and rich marine resources constitute a national trust. This vital treasure trove of biodiversity is facing rapid deterioration and demands immediate and robust intervention by all stakeholders,” the navy said.
“Recognizing our obligation to the environment, Pakistan Navy is also instilling ecological ethos through awareness drives and crucial partnerships. To mark the occasion, National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) has organized one day international seminar to create awareness about the issue and highlight ways and means to protect our oceans.”
Pakistan delegation in UK after ‘successful’ talks in New York on India conflict
- India and Pakistan last month engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades, killing 70 people on both sides
- Pakistani delegates are currently visiting key capitals as part of efforts to present Islamabad’s stance on the standoff
KARACHI: A Pakistani delegation has arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) as part of Islamabad’s diplomatic outreach over last month’s military conflict with India, following their “successful” talks in New York.
India and Pakistan engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades, raising fears of the prospect of an all-out nuclear war. After both countries traded heavy fire for four days, pounding each other with missiles, fighter jets and drone strikes, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between them on May 10.
The nine-member Pakistan delegation, led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, held several meetings with representatives of the United Nations (UN), its member states and US officials to present Pakistan’s stance on the standoff with India and peace in the region.
The Pakistan delegates said the purpose of their meetings was to have peace in the region and to have talks with New Delhi on all India-Pakistan issues, including the restoration of the Indus Waters Treaty and the resolution of Kashmir dispute.
“We have explained to them [US officials] that Pakistan’s water, this is a civilization, the lives of 240 million people, their culture [depend on it],” Khurram Dastgir, a Pakistani lawmaker who is part of the delegation, told a Pakistani news channel in the UK.
“We explained this to America that their economic partnership with India, it will not bring about that development if India and Pakistan will perpetually remain [in a state of] war.”
India announced in April that it was putting the 1960 World Bank-mediated treaty in abeyance after it accused Pakistan of backing an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. Islamabad denied complicity in the attack that killed 26 people.
Jalil Abbas Jilani, a former Pakistani foreign secretary, said they held quite constructive talks with members of the UN Security Council during their New York visit.
“Basically, our message was that India committed an aggression and that Pakistan is a peaceful country... Pakistan wants all India-Pakistan issues to be resolved in a peaceful manner,” he said.
Pakistani senator Sherry Rehman, who was also part of the talks, said the main objective of their discussions was peace in the region.
“Our goal was peace, promote dialogue, to have the status of water treaty changed, which they [India] have unilaterally suspended, and to start a discussion on Kashmir,” she said.
The Pakistani delegates are expected to meet key UK officials during their visit to highlight Pakistan’s perspective on last month’s conflict and its possible consequences for the region.
British foreign minister David Lammy is the highest-profile Western official to have visited both New Delhi and Islamabad since the South Asian neighbors agreed to a ceasefire last month.
“We want the situation to be maintained, but of course we recognize fragility, particularly in the backdrop of terrorism, terrorism designed to destabilize India,” Lammy said, adding that he discussed the next steps with both Modi and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, but gave no specifics. “We are keen to continue to work with our Indian partners on counter-terrorism measures.”
India and Pakistan, bitter rivals since they gained independence in 1947 from British rule, have fought three wars, including two over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
Both countries administer Kashmir in parts but claim the region entirely. Pakistan accuses India of occupying Kashmir and denying its people their right to self-determination. It regularly calls on India to abide by the United Nations Security Council resolutions and hold a transparent plebiscite in the territory.
India, on the other hand, accuses Pakistan of arming and funding militant separatists in the part of Kashmir it administers. Islamabad has denied the allegations and says it extends only diplomatic and moral support to the people of Indian-administered Kashmir.
Where there’s smoke, there’s Eid: The charcoal that fires up Karachi’s barbecue feasts
- Most of the charcoal firing up Eid celebrations is produced in sweltering kilns in rural parts of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province
- Charcoal popular fuel choice for Eid barbecues as it produces high, consistent heat that allows for searing, infusing meat with smoky flavor
GHARO, SINDH: As the scent of marinated meat sizzling on open flames wafts through neighborhoods in Karachi this Eid Al-Adha, few pause to consider where the fire itself comes from.
The crackle beneath the skewers and the smoke that perfumes the city’s rooftops and courtyards originate not just from the sacrifice of animals, but from a quieter, often forgotten labor force deep in rural Sindh.
The joy of Eid barbecues, the centerpiece of celebration for many families, is ignited by the enduring heat of charcoal, most of which is produced in the blistering kilns of Pakistan’s southern Sindh province. Along a dusty belt stretching from the coastal town of Gharo in Thatta district to the southeastern edge of Pakistan bordering India, thousands of kilns work year-round, fueling festive fires across the country.
Charcoal, valued for its high, consistent heat and the signature smoky flavor it imparts, is a barbecue staple during Eid. Whether it’s tender beef skewers, spicy mutton chops, or lamb cooked Pashtun-style in a rosh pot, nearly every Eid dish cooked on open flame starts with charcoal. And come Eid, demand spikes sharply.
“Our peak season is during Eid Al-Adha when people prepare sacrificial meat at home and at barbecues, and it is also cooked in hotels,” said Khushhal Khan, a kiln owner in Gharo. “This leads to an increase in our business.”
Khan owns 14 kilns. Like many in the informal charcoal trade, his work is unregistered but vital.
According to estimates from local producers, Sindh is home to over 2,000 charcoal-making establishments, each operating around 15 kilns. Combined, they produce roughly 72,000 metric tons of charcoal every month, much of which is funneled into urban centers like Karachi in the days before Eid.
“NO EID WITHOUT CHARCOAL”
The process of making charcoal is as ancient as it is arduous.
Large nine-foot mud kilns are loaded with carefully stacked wood, around 45 to 50 maunds (approximately 1.8 to 2 metric tons) per batch. Once the wood is in place, the kiln is sealed with mud and ignited through a top opening.
It then burns slowly for several days, without oxygen, transforming into dense black chunks of carbon. Managing this burn requires constant vigilance.
“If the fire is too intense, the charcoal becomes low quality,” said Niaz Khan, who has worked at kilns for two decades. “It needs to be burned at a steady, medium flame.”
Once cooled, the charcoal is extracted, sifted, and bundled for transport.
“This is not easy work,” Niaz added. “Our forefathers have been doing this work, making charcoal, and we are still continuing it.”
The next link in the chain lies in the markets of Karachi. Trucks loaded with charcoal pull into warehouses and shops like the one run by Muhammad Younus, whose family has sold fuel in the city since 1956.
“This charcoal comes from interior Sindh, from areas like Badin, Gharo, Thatta and Sujawal,” Younus said from his store in Karachi’s old city district.
“On normal days, most buyers are hotel owners. But during Eid Al-Adha, the demand increases because every household … is preparing to cook the sacrificial meat.”
Normally, Younus sells around 150 kilograms of charcoal per day. But during Eid season, that figure can jump to 400 kilograms or more.
Purchased from kiln operators at around Rs2,200 per maund (40kg), the charcoal is sold at retail for about Rs100 per kilogram.
“Some people buy two, five or even 10 kilograms,” he said. “In every home, cows are slaughtered, meat is kept, children do barbecues on rooftops, families hold gatherings inside their homes and parties take place.”
“ROOFTOPS COME ALIVE”
In Karachi’s packed neighborhoods, rooftops come alive after the Eid sacrifice.
Families, especially young men and children, light coals in metal grills and prepare platters of marinated meat. The flames flicker, music plays, and conversations stretch into the night.
“We invite our relatives, make our rooftops lively and there is a bustle,” said Jabir Khan, a city resident shopping for charcoal. “The barbecue becomes a festive event.”
Despite rising prices, charcoal remains central to the Eid experience in urban Pakistan. It is not just a fuel, it’s a cultural bridge that links the sacrifice to the celebration, rural toil to urban delight, and labor to memory.
“Without charcoal, there is no barbecue,” Jabir said simply.
“And without barbecue, Eid feels incomplete.”
Pakistani pilgrims praise Saudi Arabia’s ‘impressive’ Hajj 2025 arrangements
- More than 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj pilgrimage this year
- Pilgrims praise Riyadh for heat mitigation efforts, arranging separate facilities for women
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pilgrims on Saturday heaped praise on the government of Saudi Arabia for undertaking “impressive” arrangements for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj.
The comments by Pakistani Hajj pilgrims were shared by the country’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday as Muslims marked the beginning of Eid Al-Adha in Pakistan and other parts of the world.
More than 115,000 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia this year under both the government scheme and private tour operators to perform Hajj.
“I had a very good Hajj experience,” Nadia Sarfaraz, a Pakistani pilgrim from Karachi, said in a video message. “Everything went smoothly and we have no complaints against anyone. The Saudi government is providing support here and our own [Pakistan’s] government is helping a lot too,” she added.
Rabia Babar, a Pakistani pilgrim from Islamabad, praised the Saudi government for facilitating pilgrims, especially women, throughout the Hajj.
“There are separate lifts for women. In Muzdalifah, where we spent the night, the area was fully carpeted,” she said.
This year’s Hajj saw authorities implementing a range of heat mitigation efforts alongside a wide-ranging crackdown on illicit pilgrims — resulting in noticeably thinner crowds and a heavy security presence at holy sites in Makkah and surrounding areas.
“There were [water] coolers and drinking water available everywhere,” Babar said. “They had large refrigerators, and they were providing us water bottles and even shower facilities.”
Faraz Latif, a Pakistani pilgrim who had arrived in the Kingdom from the southwestern city of Quetta, praised both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for undertaking impressive arrangements for Hajj pilgrims.
He said maintaining cleanliness was pilgrims’ responsibility, urging them to learn patience and adopt it in their lives even after the Hajj was over.
“It will help you not just during Hajj but throughout your life,” Latif said.
The first Pakistani flight carrying Hajj pilgrims back to the country is scheduled to arrive in Karachi on June 11.
As goats get pricier, Pakistan’s capital turns to falooda dessert to keep Eid Al-Adha spirit alive
- Falooda is made with vermicelli in cold milk, softened basil seeds and generous scoops of vanilla or kulfi ice cream
- Final touch is a fragrant pour of rose syrup, turning concoction into a pink-hued celebration of summer and Eid
ISLAMABAD: With sacrificial goats commanding million-rupee price tags this Eid Al-Adha, many in Pakistan’s capital are seeking solace not in the livestock markets, but in a humbler tradition: a chilled bowl of falooda — a silky, rose-scented dessert layered with ice cream, nostalgia, and just enough sweetness to lift a heat- and inflation-weary soul.
A dessert with Persian roots, falooda made its way to South Asia during the Mughal era, evolving from a frozen, rose-infused noodle pudding in Iran to the vibrant, multi-textured treat beloved across Pakistan today.
At its best, falooda is an edible symphony, a tangle of thin vermicelli swimming in cold milk, softened basil seeds (tukhmalanga) floating like miniature pearls, and a generous scoop of vanilla or kulfi ice cream crowning the glass. The final touch is a fragrant pour of rose syrup, turning the whole concoction into a pink-hued celebration of summer — and now Eid.
Nowhere is this more evident than at Bata Kulfi Falooda, a small, family-run dessert shop in Islamabad’s bustling I-8 Markaz marketplace.
There, amid the clatter of spoons and the hum of Eid shoppers, customers line up for what’s become a seasonal staple, the shop’s signature Matka Falooda, served in traditional clay bowls that keep the dessert ice-cold, even under the blazing June sun.
“We first opened in Peshawar [northwestern city] in 1962,” said Shah Faisal, the shop’s manager, as he rushed between customers to take orders. “In 2015, we brought the same taste to Islamabad. Nothing has changed. The ingredients, the method, even the feel of it, it all comes from Peshawar.”
During Eid week, Bata Kulfi Falooda’s signature Matka Falooda becomes more than a dessert. It’s a celebration in a bowl.
“It’s a memory in every bite,” said Muhammad Kamil, a 27-year-old student who had just returned from a livestock market, saying he was stunned by the jaw-dropping prices.
“Right at the entrance, we saw a goat priced at Rs1.5 million [$5,350]. A little further in, there was a sheep for Rs2 million [$7,140],” Kamil said as he waited for his bowl of falooda.
“After seeing a goat worth Rs1.5 million, only ice cream could cool us down, otherwise it would’ve been hard to keep the spirit of sacrifice alive.”
Determined to celebrate in his own way, Kamil turned to falooda, at a far more palatable Rs450 ($1.60) per bowl.
What drew him in, he said, was the comforting presentation: the cold earthen bowl, the soft noodles slicked with syrup, and the melting scoop of ice cream sinking slowly into the milky depths. He’s even considering gifting bowls of it to friends this Eid.
Indeed, with families across Islamabad and beyond rethinking how to celebrate Eid this year, it may not be the size of the goat that sets the mood but rather the shared sweetness of something simple, familiar, and deeply rooted in tradition.
So, while this Eid may see fewer families walking home from markets with goats in tow, many are still finding ways to savor the spirit of the season with a humble bowl of falooda, which is doing more than just cooling people down — it’s lifting spirits, one spoonful at a time.
According to shop manager Faisal, falooda easily outpaces even their famous kulfi in popularity during the Eid holidays.
“In this heat and with everything getting so expensive, people still want something festive,” he said. “And falooda brings joy that doesn’t cost a fortune.”
