The law enforcement agencies have carried out an intelligence based operation in Kurram Agency, tracking down and eliminating a terrorist wanted in the martyrdom of a decorated senior intelligence officer and his comrade. Two Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officials — Director Naveed Sadiq Sial and Inspector Nasir Abbas — were martyred in a gun attack on Jan 3 at a roadside restaurant in Pirowal area of Khanewal. But the country's intelligence agencies utilised the latest counter-terrorism technology day and night to track the wanted terrorist, sources said, nabbing and eliminating him before his possible departure to Afghanistan. “The terrorists started firing at the police team when they approached them. However, both the terrorists blew themselves up after they found no way to escape,” the spokesperson added.

Israel appears to have been behind an overnight drone attack on a military factory in Iran, a US official said on Sunday. Iran claimed to have intercepted drones that struck a military industry target near the central city of Isfahan, and said there were no casualties or serious damage. A spokesperson for the Israeli military declined to comment. Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said no US military forces were involved in strikes in Iran, but declined to comment further. But state TV broadcast comments by a lawmaker, Hossein Mirzaie, saying there was “strong speculation” Israel was behind it.

Share:The Islamic Republic of Pakistan faces a serious food and stove crisis. Due to a shortage of fuel the stove is cold and there is no flour to make bread. The 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposit at Sui is now depleted together with an acute shortage of wheat. Then there was a big breakthrough with the discovery of natural gas at Sui in the Dera Bugti area of Balochistan. For fuel-starved nations like Pakistan, coal has a future but with the application of environmentally friendly 21st-century technologies.

Within a week a high level “Core Committee for novel Coronavirus disease (COVID19)” was formed by the Ministry of Health. First reported case of COVID19 came on 26th February and thus we had around five weeks to prepare. Where deaths immediately after a COVID19 infection may have fallen, the understanding of long-term health effects of even a mild infection is evolving (Long COVID). Most countries have stopped reporting daily COVID19 numbers and deaths and surveillance systems are pretty much gone for all practical purposes. Therefore, we, as a society, need to decrease the risk of COVID19 infections in our houses, schools and workplaces.

Earlier in October last year, the PTI chief ran for eight constituencies and made history by bagging six seats. He added that the earlier elected candidates from these constituencies would file their nominations as ‘covering candidates’. The former foreign minister said the PTI had sacrificed its two governments while taking the constitutional route to ensure timely elections. Presenting another resolution, PTI leader Umar urged President Alvi to take notice of the “harassment” of party leaders and activists as well as the “human rights violations” in the country. She appealed to the CJP to take suo moto notice of “gross violations of law” in her husband's case.

Loopholes in the previous narrativeUnder Mehsud, the TTP leadership realised the need for a shift in its previously extant narrative or to come up with a more comprehensive a narrative or discourse. Considering TTP’s history, it never had an extensive, compelling and profound narrative. The bottom lineNot just confusing, TTP’s new narrative has a lot of contradictions. Whether the new narrative can justify the group’s violence, and win it more supporters and resources remains to be seen. Considering the self-contradictory strands of this narrative, it would be difficult for TTP to sustain its actions and struggle for power.

The Finance Minister cushioned the news by reiterating that the last four months had seen diesel and kerosene oil prices decrease but the current devaluation left no further options besides a price hike. In a desperate measure to secure external financing, draft ordinances to impose new taxes have also been prepared. Newer taxes and the ordinances being prepared will further target these industrialists and the outcome can be distressing. International commodity prices are always in flux as the economy readjusts to global trends, exchange rates, and more. Now, with fuel prices, other imported goods will follow the trend and inflation is likely to be pushed more.

Yet, the American desire to resort to cyber warfare and conduct cyber-attacks on the Russian power industry is also well-grounded. Nothing will promote that more than the US and NATO cyber-attacks on the Russian electric power industry. Just few days ago, more than 230 million people in Pakistan experienced a major power breakdown. This is a hypothetical assumption, but given the Western cyber warfare objectives and also the statement coming from our energy minister that some outside hand may be involved in the countrywide blackout, the assumption may not be misconstrued. The US has also publicly stated its doctrinal documents on cyber warfare that the whole world and the global information space is “the sphere of her interests”.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday said the people had rejected the “lies of Imran Khan” by giving warm welcome to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President and Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz at the Lahore Airport on her return from London. The minister, in a tweet, said Imran Khan who was a “plunderer” of Toshakhana had received an answer from the people who accorded a warm welcome to Maryam Nawaz. “By giving a warm welcome to Maryam Nawaz without a call from party, the nation has proved with whom they stand with,” she added. The minister extended gratitude to the nation for turning out in a large numbers at the airport for welcoming Maryam Nawaz back to the country.

Honour killings, a form of violence perpetrated in the name of maintaining honour and protecting the reputation of the family and community, are driven by a desire to uphold strict social norms. Common reasons for honour killings include suspicions of extramarital relationships, refusal of arranged marriages, seeking a divorce, perceived promiscuity, and other forms of nonconformity. Women, who are often seen as the primary guardians of family honour, are disproportionately targeted in these killings. Despite these laws, honour killings continue to occur rampantly in Pakistan, often with impunity. The majority of the Muslim community and Islamic scholars reject the notion that honour killings are a part of Islamic teachings.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will undertake an official visit to Moscow from 29-30 January at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement on Saturday. “The foreign minister will hold official talks with his Russian counterpart where the two sides would deliberate upon the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on the regional and international issues of mutual interest,” stated the press release. The visit by the foreign minister comes almost a week after Pakistan and Russia reached an agreement on the supply of Russian crude oil and other oil products in a major breakthrough at a time when the country is facing a severe economic crunch. The two sides reached an agreement after the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation concluded. Through the special message, the Russian energy minister conveyed that President Putin referred to “Pakistan as Russia’s important partner in South Asia and the Islamic World [and] reiterated Russia’s strong interest to deepen the bilateral relationship”.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz has said that all characters who conspired against party supremo Nawaz Sharif have been “unmasked and met their fate”. “Nawaz Sharif is the still the top leader of the country despite being ousted from power three times,” she remarked. Moreover, banners and posters have been displayed on the way from the airport to Jati Umrah to welcome Maryam. Sea of people eagerly waiting to welcome Maryam Nawaz Sharif.#خوش_آمدید_امید_سحر pic.twitter.com/iTtT12xhzL — PML(N) (@pmln_org) January 28, 2023Maryam, after her arrival at Lahore airport, tweeted: "Pak sar zameen shadbad". Maryam and her father, Nawaz Sharif, left London for Geneva on January 4.

It should not be surprising to note how this region faces some of the toughest — conventional and non-conventional — security challenges in the world today. It is hard to deny the impact of colonisation across South Asia. The growing influence of China across South Asia adds another layer of stress to the regional friction evident within and across South Asia today. Despite varied differences, both large and smaller South Asian states share vital natural resources which are confronting increasing climate threats. All South Asian states need to cooperate to better address regional climate-related challenges and to untap the economic potential of the broader region.

North Andover, MA (01845)TodayPartly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low around 30F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..TonightPartly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low around 30F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Flotilla comprising PNS RAHNAWARD and RASADGAR along with PN Submarine HASHMAT port-called Muscat in Oman and Bandar Abbas in Iran, respectively, during overseas deployment. On arrival at host countries’ ports, Pakistan Navy ships were warmly welcomed by representatives of Pakistani embassies and officials of host navies, a Pakistan Navy media release said. Students of Pakistani School Muscat and members of Pakistani community also visited PN Ships. Upon completion of the port call at Iran, PN ships participated in a passage exercise with Iranian Navy Ship IRIS KAMAN to enhance interoperability. The port visits of Oman and Iran by PN Flotilla will further enhance existing close diplomatic ties and cordial relations with friendly countries.