Army says Pakistan’s ‘enemies’ exploiting ‘sense of deprivation’ of impoverished Balochistan province

This file photo taken on October 11, 2023, shows Pakistani military spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry during an event at the National Defense University in Islamabad. (NDU/File)
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Updated 05 September 2024
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Army says Pakistan’s ‘enemies’ exploiting ‘sense of deprivation’ of impoverished Balochistan province

  • Pakistan has blamed a recent surge in militant attacks on regional neighbors, including rivals India and Afghanistan
  • Military says court martial proceedings initiated against former spy chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed based on “concrete evidence” 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan army on Thursday acknowledged a “sense of deprivation and perceived notion of state brutality” among the people of Pakistan’s impoverished southwestern province of Balochistan but said these sentiments were being exploited by the country’s “internal and external enemies,” who were behind recent militant attacks also.

The statement comes nearly ten days after separatist militants killed over 50 people in the country’s largest province in a string of coordinated attacks on army and paramilitary camps, police stations, railway lines and highways on the night of Aug. 25-26. Elsewhere in the country, particularly the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, religiously motivated groups like the Pakistani Taliban have also stepped up attacks, daily targeting security forces convoys and check posts, and carrying out targeted killings and kidnappings of security and government officials.

Pakistan has blamed the recent surge in attacks on regional neighbors, including Afghanistan, where it says the coming to power of the Afghan Taliban in 2021 has emboldened anti-Pakistan groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Kabul says it does not allow its territory to be used by terror groups. 

Pakistan also says that India and Afghanistan are fomenting militancy in Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and has been the site of a decades-long separatist insurgency. Ethnic Baloch militants say they are fighting for secession due to what they see as the unfair exploitation of the province’s mineral and gas wealth by the federation, which denies the charge.

“We are aware that there is a sense of deprivation and perceived notion of state brutality among Balochistan’s people, which certain external forces often exploit,” military spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said at a media briefing. “The terrorist attacks on the night of August 25-26 was part of the ongoing game of this external conspiracy and funding.

“These acts were conducted with the assistance of internal and external enemies and their facilitators. The aim was to hurt the peace of Balochistan and its development by targeting innocent civilians.”

The August assaults were the most widespread in the resource-rich province, home to major China-led projects such as a port and a gold and copper mine. Balochistan is an important part of China’s $65 billion investment in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a wing of President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road initiative. It also houses key mining projects, including Reko Diq, run by mining giant Barrick Gold and believed to be one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines. 

The attacks came as the province was in the grips of protests by an ethnic rights movement led by young Baloch, many of them educated women, who have been calling for an end to what they describe as a pattern of enforced disappearances and human rights abuses by security forces, which deny the charge. The army and government have recently repeatedly referred to the protest movement as a “terrorist proxy,” with independent analysts and politicians calling on the state to take a more even-handed approach to the protesters and take their demands seriously to avoid the province slipping into more instability and violence. 

Speaking about ongoing operations against militants, Chaudhry said security forces and law enforcement agencies were conducting over 130 intelligence-based operations across the country daily, with 32,173 operations conducted so far this year in which 90 militants were killed.

“In the last eight months of 2024, 193 officers and soldiers embraced martyrdom during counter-terrorism operations,” the military spokesman said.

COURT MARTIAL OF EX-SPY CHIEF 

Commenting on last month’s unprecedented arrest of a former spy chief, Lt Gen (retired) Faiz Hameed, Chaudhry said court martial proceedings initiated against him were based on “concrete evidence.” 

“Following a detailed inquiry based on concrete evidence, the Pakistan Army announced on August 12, 2024, that the relevant officer had violated sections of the Army Act,” the military spokesman said, adding that the army had found Hameed to be involved in “several instances of violation of the Army Act,” following which court martial proceedings had been initiated.

Chaudhry said the army believed in “self-accountability.”

“This process of self-accountability works on solid proof and evidence instead of allegations,” he added. “This self-accountability system comes into effect speedily without any discrimination whenever there is a violation of army laws and regulations.”

The military spokesperson said the case against Hameed reflected that the army viewed violations carried out for personal and political motives “very seriously,” and had initiated action according to the law and without discrimination.

Hameed was widely believed to be close to Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan when he was PM from 2018-2022. Other than charges relating to a land development case, the military at the time of his arrest also said “multiple instances” of violation of the Pakistan Army Act post-retirement had been found against Hameed, in what was widely seen as a veiled reference to his support for Khan and his party, including in planning the May 9 riots of last year in which protesters linked to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party attacked and damaged government and military installations. 

Hundreds of PTI followers and leaders were arrested following the riots and many continue to remain behind bars as they await trial. The military has also initiated army court trials of at least 103 people accused of involvement in the violence.

Government officials have repeatedly said Hameed worked with Khan to plan the May 9 riots. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Geo TV last month that Khan provided the manpower while Hameed “masterminded the conspiracy.” Current army chief General Asim Munir said in May that there could be “no compromise or deal with the planners and architects of this dark chapter in our history.” He did not name anybody.

Khan is on trial in a civil court for allegedly abetting the My 9 violence, a charge he has denied. But he can face more serious charges of treason and mutiny after Hameed’s arrest. Treason and mutiny are tried by a military court, which is not open to the public, and the charges carry a maximum punishment of death.

Khan has been feuding with Pakistan’s all-powerful military after a falling out with then-army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in 2022, following which he was ousted from office in a parliamentary vote that he said was orchestrated by the generals. The army says it does not interfere in political affairs.


After ODI series win, Rizwan to lead Pakistan in first T20I against Australia today

Updated 22 min 4 sec ago
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After ODI series win, Rizwan to lead Pakistan in first T20I against Australia today

  • Pakistan to play three-match series against Australia on Nov. 14, 16 and 18 in Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart
  • Rizwan’s side defeated Australia 2-1 in three-match series last week to win first series in Australia since 2002

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan will lead his side for the first time against Australia in a T20I format at Brisbane today, Thursday, after steering the green shirts to their first ever ODI series victory against the 2023 world champions since 2022. 

Rizwan will become the 12th person to assume Pakistan’s T20 captaincy when he takes the field in Brisbane for the first T20I. Pakistan’s cricket team, encouraged by stellar performances from fast bowlers Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, beat Australia 2-1 in the three-match series that concluded last week. 

After Thursday’s match, Pakistan will play against Australia in Sydney and Hobart on Nov. 16 and 18 respectively. Pakistani cricketers Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Moqim and Usman Khan joined the T20I squad in Brisbane on Nov. 11 after undergoing a five-day training camp in the southern port city of Karachi. 

“We are confident after beating Australia in the ODI series but international cricket is always challenging so we aim to do things as better as we can going into this T20I series against Australia,” Rizwan said a day before the match. 

“We have determined the roles of various players in the team and look forward to executing our best plans not just in this series but also in the upcoming white-ball fixtures against Zimbabwe and South Africa.”

The Pakistan captain said he wanted to keep all the players involved in the series motivated. 

“Of course, the conditions have helped the bowlers on this tour so far but we also want to prove our mettle as a batting unit and I look forward to an exciting contest in the three matches,” he said. 

Pakistan last faced Australia in a T20 contest in March 2022 when the two teams played a one-off T20I in Lahore, which Australia won. In Pakistan’s last T20I series in Australia in November 2019, the hosts won 2-0 after the opening match ended in a no result. 

Josh Inglis will lead Australia in the T20I series while Tim David and Nathan Ellis have joined Australia’s T20I squad. Josh Philippe, meanwhile, has replaced the injured Cooper Connolly.

Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (captain – wicket-keeper), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan
 


Pakistan rover to join China’s Chang’E 8 mission to explore lunar surface in 2028

Updated 45 min 20 sec ago
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Pakistan rover to join China’s Chang’E 8 mission to explore lunar surface in 2028

  • Chang’E 8 mission is a robotic exploration of the lunar south pole, known for its challenging terrain, by China in 2028
  • Pakistan’s rover will conduct scientific experiments such as lunar soil study and conduct tests for human presence

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national space agency announced this week its rover will join China’s Chang’E 8 mission to explore the moon’s surface in 2028, describing the development as a “significant milestone” for the South Asian country. 

The Chang’E 8 mission is a robotic exploration of the lunar south pole by China, expected to launch in 2028. The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the country’s space program, said its rover will land on the lunar south pole in 2028 as part of the Chang’ E 8 mission. The south pole of the moon is known for its challenging terrain and potential scientific discoveries. 

In May, Pakistan launched its first lunar satellite aboard China’s Chang’e-6 probe, which was tasked with landing on the far side of the moon that perpetually faces away from the Earth. China was the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

“SUPARCO’s rover, with an approximate weight of 35 kilograms, will join China’s Chang’E 8 mission, which is part of the larger International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project,” SUPARCO said in a statement on Wednesday. 

“This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Pakistan’s space program, as SUPARCO’s indigenous rover will be part of the mission to explore the lunar surface.”

SUPARCO said the mission would involve scientific experiments such as lunar soil study, lunar surface mapping and testing new technologies for human presence on the moon. It highlighted that the rover, equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments, would play a pivotal role in collecting data.

“This collaboration with China highlights the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and their shared vision for space exploration,” it concluded.


Imran Khan forms committee to lead Nov. 24 protest to Islamabad, conduct negotiations

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Imran Khan forms committee to lead Nov. 24 protest to Islamabad, conduct negotiations

  • PTI is protesting alleged rigging of elections, calling for release of political prisoners, independence of judiciary
  • Pakistan’s government denies being unfair in Khan’s treatment, election commission denies elections were rigged

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Wednesday he had formed a leadership committee to lead a planned protest in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Nov. 24 and conduct negotiations as his party prepares to launch an anti-government movement.

The jailed leader’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party has announced a ‘long march’ to Islamabad over alleged rigging in Feb. 8 general elections and to call for the release of political prisoners and the independence of the judiciary.

“I have formed a leadership committee to lead the protest and conduct negotiations,” Khan said in an X message from prison, urging his supporters to reach Islamabad for the protest and “not return until our demands are met.”

It was unclear who the committee would negotiate with, but in the past Khan has called for talks with the military, describing it as the “real decision-makers” as opposed to the “puppet government” led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. 

Regarding the Nov. 24 protest, the PTI’s first demand is a rollback of recent constitutional amendments like the 26th amendment that it says is an attempt to curtail the independence of the senior judiciary. The party is also calling for the release of all political prisoners, including Khan, and a return of “the public mandate” following what it believes was a rigged general election. 

Pakistan’s government denies being unfair in Khan’s treatment and its election commission denies the elections were rigged. The government also says the recent amendments related to the judiciary are meant to smooth out its functioning and tackle a backlog of cases.

Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and has faced dozens of cases since he was removed as prime minister in 2022 after which he launched a protest movement against a coalition of his rivals led by current PM Sharif and backed by the all-powerful military, which denies interfering in politics.

Khan says cases against him, which disqualified him from contesting the February elections, are politically motivated.


PM launches prevention program as over 33 million Pakistanis found to have diabetes

Updated 19 min 8 sec ago
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PM launches prevention program as over 33 million Pakistanis found to have diabetes

  • Additional 11 million adults in Pakistan have impaired glucose tolerance
  • Pakistan is on the list of countries with the largest diabetic populations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, National Diabetes Day, his government was launching a new program for the control and prevention of diabetes in a country where over 33 million people had the chronic disease. 

According to a new analysis in The Lancet journal released this week, the percentage of adults suffering from diabetes across the world has doubled over the past three decades, with the biggest rises coming in developing countries. 

The serious health condition affected around 14 percent of all adults worldwide in 2022, compared to seven percent in 1990, the Lancet study said. Taking into account the growing global population, the team of researchers estimated that more than 800 million people are now diabetic, compared to less than 200 million in 1990.

“At the Federal level, we will be launching the ‘Prime Minister’s Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes Mellitus’ under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination,” Sharif said in a statement. 

“Objective of this program is controlling the disease in federal areas and improving capacities in all provinces for providing universal health coverage, diagnosis, and treatment for diabetic patients, along with raising awareness and behavioral change.”

With 33 million of its citizens having diabetes, Pakistan is on the list of countries with the largest diabetic populations. An additional 11 million adults in Pakistan have impaired glucose tolerance, while approximately 8 to 9 million with diabetes remain undiagnosed. 

“The major risk factors leading to diabetes in Pakistan are environmental and geographical reasons in addition to genetic variants, dietary, as well as inactive lifestyle,” Sharif said. 

“The Government of Pakistan is fully committed in controlling this escalation and delivering wellbeing to diabetic population.”

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose.

Type 1 diabetes affects patients from a young age and is more difficult to treat because it is caused by an insulin deficiency. Type 2 mainly affects middle-aged or older people who lose their sensitivity to insulin.


Army says suicide bomber recruiter among four militants killed in southwest Pakistan 

Updated 13 November 2024
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Army says suicide bomber recruiter among four militants killed in southwest Pakistan 

  • High value target recruited suicide bombers for separatist outfit BLA in district Kech, says army 
  • Last week’s bomb blast claimed by BLA at railway station in southwestern Pakistan killed at least 24

ISLAMABAD: Security forces shot dead four militants, among them a recruiter for suicide bombers for the separatist outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in an intelligence-based operation in southwest Pakistan, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.

The operation was conducted in Balgatar area of southwestern Balochistan province’s Kech district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing, said. 

Pakistan launched an armed operation in Balochistan earlier this month against separatist militants behind multiple attacks in August in which over 50 people, including civilians and security officials were killed. The BLA also claimed responsibility for a bomb blast last week that killed at least 24 people and left 50 injured at a railway station in Quetta.

“During the conduct of the operation, after an intense fire exchange between own troops and the terrorists, four terrorists including a high-value target, terrorist ringleader Sana (alias) Baru were killed,” the ISPR said. 

“He was a focal recruitment agent, especially suicide bombers, for the so-called Majeed Brigade in District Kech and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.”

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the slain “terrorists,” the army’s media wing said. It added that security forces had launched a sanitization operation to eliminate any other “terrorists” found in the area.

Pakistan’s Balochistan province, which shares porous borders with Afghanistan and Iran, has been the scene of a low-lying insurgency for decades. Ethnic Baloch nationalists have long accused the central government and Punjab of monopolizing profits from Balochistan’s natural resources. 

The state denies these allegations and says it is working on several projects to usher in development in the gas-and-oil rich province.