ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first Sindhi-language film in nearly three decades, “Indus Echoes” or “Sindhu Ji Goonj” will have its international premiere next week at the Jaipur International Film Festival (JIFF) on Jan. 21. 

The film is directed and produced by Pakistani journalist-turned-filmmaker, Rahul Aijaz, who told Arab News in August last year that the Indus River served as inspiration for the film. The river fascinated Aijaz for a long time as it served as a “major symbol” of the Sindhi culture, he said. 

According to its synopsis, the film explores the relationship between humans and the Indus River through five stories set on, across and around the Indus. The film is a collaboration between Pakistan’s Film N’ Chips Media Productions,

Shaam Films and South Korea’s Big Meta Films. It stars Sindhi-speaking actors, Vajdaan Shah and Ansaar Mahar, in addition to Samina Seher in key roles. Renowned actor Shamoon Abbasi serves as executive producer of the film. 

“GOOD NEWS! Our Sindhi language feature film “Sindhu ji Goonj” (Indus Echoes) has been selected for the Jaipur International Film Festival in India,” Aijaz wrote on his Facebook profile on Dec. 21. “We will be having the international premiere in Jaipur next month.”

While JIFF is scheduled to kick off on Jan. 17, the Sindhi feature film will be screened at the Rajasthan Adult Education Association in Jaipur on Jan. 21. 

Pakistan reportedly released its first-ever Sindhi film, ‘Umar Marvi,’ in 1956, while the country saw the release of its last Sindhi film, ‘Himmat,’ in 1997. Since then, only a few Sindhi telefilms and short films have been produced, but no

Sindhi feature film, which averages between 75 and 210 minutes, was made in the South Asian country.

In 2020, Aijaz also produced a short Sindhi-language film called, ‘A Train Crosses the Desert,’ which was screened in four countries, including at JIFF (2021) in India and the South Asian International Film Festival (2020) in the US. 

ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed eight militants in two separate intelligence-based operations in northwest Pakistan, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday, a day after army chief General Asim Munir warned any attempt to disrupt the country’s peace would be met with decisive force.

The army chief, who attended a security meeting during his visit to Peshawar, emphasized security forces would persist in combating violent extremism, particularly against the proscribed militant network Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has predominantly targeted civilians and security personnel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The latest operations, conducted in KP, occurred amid heightened tensions following a surge in attacks by TTP militants, which Pakistan says operate from across the border in Afghanistan, though Afghan authorities deny the allegation.

“On 12-13 January 2024, eight khwarij [TTP militants] were sent to hell in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province,” the military’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The ISPR detailed that six militants were killed during an operation in Tank District, while two others lost their lives in a clash that took place in the Tirah Valley, Khyber District.

“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other khwarij found in the area, as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country,” the statement added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security forces for their successful operations.

“The nation is proud of the fearless young men in our security forces,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office, vowing to thwart the militants’ “evil designs” and reiterating the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism.

The northwest region of Pakistan has seen an uptick in violence since the TTP ended a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government in November 2022.

Last week, armed TTP militants abducted 17 Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission workers and their driver in Lakki Marwat district, releasing eight of them hours later while police said they were working to free the remaining abductees.