Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Home Blog Page 19

Border clashes erupt again between Afghan & Pakistani forces

Torkham border point between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Kabul, Mar 5 (NVI) Heavy cross-border clashes once again erupted today between Afghan and Pakistani forces in Torkham-Jalalabad sector, even as thousands of people living close to the frontier in Afghanistan have shifted to safer places, according to reports.

Border guards on both sides used heavy weapons and rockets to target each other’s positions, the reports said.

There were reports of injuries to some journalists on the Afghanistan side but confirmation was awaited.

Border forces of the two neighbours have been repeatedly engaging in heavy firing and shelling in the sector for the past few days.

So far, at least 3 Pakistani soldiers and a Taliban fighter have been killed and several injured on the both sides.

According to sources, the clashes started a few days back after Afghan soldiers wanted to set up a post near the Torkham border and the Pakistani side opposed it.

The armed clashes started after 10 days of closure of the Torkham border, the main transit point between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The closure of the border, amidst increasing diplomatic and military tensions between the two neighbours, has left stranded thousands of goods-laden trucks on both sides of the frontier.

The bilateral trade between the two countries was to the tune of around $1.6 billion in the last calendar year. (NVI)

Pakistan Army Cantt stormed by armed men; 12 soldiers killed, 30 injured

Scene at Bannu Army Cantt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan after being attacked

Peshawar, Mar 5 (NVI) Over a dozen Pakistani soldiers have been killed and nearly 30 others injured after a large group of heavily-armed men stormed the Army Cantonment in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province last evening.

 

While some of the attackers have been killed in the gunfight with the Pakistani military, others continue to fight inside the compound even as nearly 24 hours passed since the attack began, according to the latest reports.

 

The Bannu cantonment, which is the biggest garrison of the Pakistan Army in Khyber Pakthunkhwa Province, was attacked from three sides, with two suicide bombers ramming their explosives-laden vehicles into the main cordon and the third one blasting another gate.

 

The explosions caused collapse of various structures, parts of an adjoining Mosque, reports said.

 

The attackers then stormed into the high-security compound, firing rocket-propelled grenades and using heavy assault guns.

 

Sounds of heavy gunfire, punctuated with loud explosions, were heard through the last night and most of the day today.

 

According to various sources, at least 12 soldiers died and over 30 others were injured.

 

Along with the military personnel, some civilians, including children, were also killed and  injured in the attack which was still going on.

 

According to eyewitnesses, 3 bodies and an injured person were recovered from the rubble of the mosque which caved in due to the blast.

 

Pakistani military spokesman ISPR, meanwhile, claimed that only 5 soldiers had been killed in the attack carried out by 16 armed men.

“The multiple suicide blasts resulted in the partial collapse of the perimeter wall, causing damage to the adjacent infrastructure. Tragically, a mosque and a civilian residential building in close proximity also suffered severe destruction, leading to the martyrdom of thirteen innocent civilians and injuries to thirty-two others,” ISPR said in a statement.

 

It said there was evidence that Afghan nationals were also involved in the attack. (NVI)

4 rebel armed groups form single outfit as ‘decisive New War strategy’ for Liberation from Pakistan

Representative picture of Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) fighters

Quetta, Mar 3 (NVI) In a huge development, four major armed outfits fighting for liberation of Balochistan and Sindh from Pakistan have decided to form a united organisation to be a “decisive force which will prove to be an invincible wall against the enemy (Pakistan)”.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), Baloch Republican Guards (BRG), and Sindhi Liberation Organization ‘Sindhu Desh Revolutionary Army’ (SDRA) have held a high-level meeting and agreed to form the Baloch National Army (BNA).

So far, these outfits have been operating under an umbrella organisation called Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS).

“The meeting lasted for three days during which important decisions were made to enter the Baloch national movement into a decisive phase,” said a statement issued by the BRAS to NVI.

“It was agreed in the meeting that BRAS will soon take the form of the Baloch National Army,” said the BRAS spokesman Baloch Khan.

New committees and departments will be reconstituted at a high level to bring the activists and leadership of various organizations under a unified military structure, while at the grassroots level, the process of strengthening and reorganizing the organizational and military foundations in all regions will commence immediately, the statement added.

The main objective of this process is to transform the Baloch resistance forces from scattered operations into an organized, coordinated and decisive force which will prove to be an invincible wall against the enemy, it said.

“It was decided in the meeting that further intensity and innovation will be introduced in the war against Pakistan and China.

“Guerrilla operations will be organized according to modern military strategies to inflict greater losses on the enemy, while the combat superiority of BRAS will be further consolidated through the effective use of technology on the battlefield.

“A coordinated and systematic plan of action has been drawn up to completely eliminate the enemy’s intelligence superiority, weaken its military positions and target its war equipment which will be implemented as soon as possible,” it said.

“To intensify resistance against the looting of Baloch resources, the exploitative projects of Pakistani and Chinese capitalists and the presence of the occupying army, it was decided to intensify the blockade on all important highways of Balochistan to disrupt the logistical, economic and military interests of the occupying state.

“Additionally, operations are being organized under a new strategy in different areas further increasing pressure on the enemy’s movements and centers,” the BRAS said.

A new strategy is also being formulated at the diplomatic level to further highlight the Baloch national issue on the global stage.

A diplomatic campaign will be launched to effectively present the atrocities committed by the Pakistani and Chinese states, the Baloch genocide, enforced disappearances, military aggression and colonial projects on international forums.

In this regard, BRAS will pay special attention to strengthening ties with international diplomatic institutions, human rights organizations and various global forces.

Important decisions have also been made to make the Baloch media more effective and active.

New steps will be taken to adapt the resistance media to modern requirements, strengthen ties with international media organizations and present the Baloch national narrative more effectively on social media, countering enemy propaganda and clarifying the real objectives of the Baloch movement to the world, the BRAS spokesman said.

A comprehensive plan has also been formulated for the ideological, intellectual and military training of all Baloch freedom fighters.

Under this plan, each fighter will not only receive further training in combat skills but will also be intellectually and practically prepared regarding national ideology, revolutionary politics and the colonialist conspiracies of the enemy.

It is essential that every freedom fighter understands that his struggle is not for any specific group or organization but for Baloch national liberation. This ideology can give rise to an invincible movement.

BRAS has also prepared a complete roadmap to further develop its guerrilla warfare strategy, minimize losses and achieve maximum results.

Under this strategy, systematic operations are being organized to put the enemy under greater pressure while a plan for the maximum use of technology in combat operations is being implemented.

BRAS will ensure that every step of resistance is executed in such a way that the enemy suffers irreparable damage while minimizing casualties among Baloch freedom fighters.

A concerted effort will be made to further strengthen ties with all allied organizations as well as other libertarian organizations and unite them under the banner of BRAS. The meeting also emphasized that to further expand and strengthen the Baloch national resistance on every front the national struggle should be prioritized over any form of factionalism.

BRAS firmly believes that the only guarantee of Baloch national liberation is the establishment of a united, organized and invincible national army. History has proven that liberation movements succeed only when they move beyond scattered military operations and unite under an organized military leadership. BRAS is advancing this ideology so that the Baloch national movement can be given an invincible structure that can thwart every conspiracy of the enemy and bring Baloch national liberation closer to reality.

The occupation of Baloch resources is unacceptable under any circumstances and BRAS will ensure that no colonial power including China can exploit Baloch resources in collaboration with Pakistan. BRAS has resolved to enter a decisive military, diplomatic and ideological phase and this war will now be fought with greater intensity and innovation, making Baloch national liberation an inevitable reality. (NVI)

Border clashes between Afghan, Pakistan forces leave several dead on both sides

File pic of Torkham Border post

Kabul, Mar 3 (NVI) On the first working day of Holy Ramzan, the border forces of Afghanistan and Pakistan engaged in heavy cross-border firing and shelling in Torkham area, leaving at least 3 Pakistani soldiers and a Taliban fighter dead and several injured on the both sides.

According to sources, the clashes started late last night after Afghan soldiers wanted to set up a post near the Torkham border and the Pakistani side opposed it.

Initially, there was a verbal spat and soon bullets and rockets started flying from both sides.

The exchange of firing and shelling continued till 11 AM (Afghan time) today, the sources said.

At least 3 Pakistani soldiers were reportedly killed and several injured in the cross-firing, according to the sources.

One Taliban border guard was also killed and some others injured.

The armed clashes came after 10 days of closure of the Torkham border, the main transit point between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The closure of the border, amidst increasing diplomatic and military tensions between the two neighbours, has left stranded thousands of goods-laden trucks on both sides of the frontier.

The bilateral trade between the two countries was to the tune of around $1.6 billion in the last calendar year. (NVI)

Major attack on Pakistani military posts in Khyber; 15 soldiers killed, many injured

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cadre in specialised gear. File pic released by TTP

Peshawar, Mar 3 (NVI) In a major attack, at least 15 Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others injured in an attack by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in North Waziristan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

According to reports, three posts of the Pakistani military were attacked by a large number of TTP fighters past midnight.

The attackers, believed to be around 25-30 in number, carried out simultaneous assaults on the three military posts, catching the soldiers by surprise.

They attackers used heavy and small weapons and as a result, 15 soldiers were killed and several others injured, locals said.

On the other hand, the Pakistani military, as usual, tried to suppress the real number of casualties by claiming that only 3 soldiers were killed and 11 injured. (NVI)

Balochistan: BLA says it killed 3 Pakistani soldiers, injured 10

Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOQ) of Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

Quetta, Feb 28 (NVI) Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) tonight claimed to have killed 3 Pakistani soldiers and injured 10 in three separate attacks in Quetta, Panjgur and Turbat districts of Balochistan.

Today, Baloch Liberation Army freedom fighters targeted a vehicle of the occupying Pakistani Army on Jan Muhammad Road in Quetta city in a remote-controlled IED attack, its spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said.

Freedom fighters targeted the enemy army vehicle as it was passing through the said area, he said, adding three of the eight personnel in the vehicle were eliminated on the spot and five personnel including the driver were seriously wounded while the vehicle was completely destroyed.

Earlier, last night, in another operation, freedom fighters targeted personnel posted at the security post of the main camp of the occupying Pakistani Army in Panjgur city using grenade launcher, he said.

As a result of the explosions, at least 3 enemy army personnel were wounded.

In another operation, Baloch Liberation Army freedom fighters targeted the occupying army camp in the Nasirabad area of ​​Turbat on the night of February 23 using grenade launchers.

At least two occupying army personnel were wounded in the attack. (NVI)

Bomb attack at Mosque in Pakistan kills prominent cleric, others

Chhattisgarh
Representatinal Image of a blast

Peshawar, Feb 28 (NVI) A suicide bomber today struck at a prominent Madrassa in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan, killing an influential Muslim cleric along with 5 others and injuring 12.

The bomber blew himself up at Madrassa-e-Haqqania in Akora Khattak in Nowshera in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the prayers.

The huge explosion killed Maulana Hamidul Haq, the seniormost cleric and caretaker of the Madrassa, and 5 other devotees and injured 12 others.

Among the injured were 3 policemen who were on security duties at the Madrassa.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) condemned the attack and hinted at the involvement of Pakistani State agencies.

“In the recent past, all the scholars and especially the political and religious leaders and workers who went against the purpose of the (Pakistani) State institutions have been targeted,” said TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani in a statement.

“The same organizations tried their best to justify the killing of the Mujahideen of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan…. The secret bloodthirsty organizations of Pakistan martyred the debilitated scholar Rabbani in Islamabad with knives in a very brutal way,” he said.

“Maulana Hamidul Haq Sahib, the heir of the same martyred scholar Rabbani (in whose veins the warm blood of the martyred Nation of Islam was circulating and who was glaring in the eyes of Pakistani institutions) was also removed from the path today very cleverly,” he said.

The TTP spokesman said Maulana Hamidul-Haq was “a preacher of truth, a good teacher and a fearless advocate of stable schools” and his “pure blood will not go in vain.”

Khorasani said this attack was “not only on the late Maulana, but on all religious schools, religious institutions and scholars.”

“Were the righteous people intimidated by such tricks, this bright lamp of Islam would have been extinguished,” he said. (NVI)

Overseas Jobs Frauds: UK Govt launches awareness campaign

Representational image

New Delhi, Feb 27 (NVI) Days after hundreds of illegal Indian immigrants were deported back by the US, the UK Government today launched the ‘Visa Fraud Ton Bacho’ campaign to help protect Indian citizens from the physical, financial, and emotional risks of visa fraud and irregular migration.

The campaign includes a new dedicated WhatsApp support line (+91 70652 51380) in English and Punjabi, helping to identify common visa scam tactics and providing access to official guidance for those seeking legal routes to travel to the UK, said a statement issued by the UK High Commission here.

The campaign, launched in Jalandhar in Punjab State, will highlight the warning signs of visa scams.

“People will be advised to look out for the common spurious claims such as the promise of jobs in the UK, no requirement for English-language tests (IELTS), and exorbitant fees,” it said.

Visa fraud leads to unacceptable and unnecessary levels of debt and puts people at risk of physical harm and exploitation.

A person found committing visa fraud could receive a 10-year ban on travel to the UK.

Under the Mobility and Migration Partnership Agreement, the UK and India have a shared commitment to tackling irregular migration.

The campaign, representing a further element of joint efforts to step up the fight against irregular migration and visa fraud, comes against the backdrop of hundreds of illegal Indian immigrants found in the US and deported from there. Most of them had been defrauded and cheated by travel agents or others.

“The opportunity to visit, study, and work in the UK has never been greater and Indian nationals continue to receive the largest share of UK visit and work visas,” said Christina Scott, British Deputy High Commissioner to India.

“However, young peoples’ dreams are being exploited, and too many are becoming victims of visa fraud. That’s why we are launching the Visa Fraud Ton Bacho campaign. The campaign seeks to raise awareness of the risks and help people to check the facts on safe and legal routes to the UK,” she added.

Caroline Rowett, British Deputy High Commissioner Chandigarh, said: “Punjab is known for its hardworking and ambitious people who have made significant contributions both in the UK and globally. We want to ensure that these dreams are fulfilled safely and legally. We urge people to spread the ‘Visa Fraud Ton Bacho’ message and help protect individuals from falling victim to fraudulent agents.” (NVI)

BNM carries out campaign in US to highlight Pakistani atrocities in Balochistan

Awareness campaign by Baloch National Movement in the US

Seattle (Washington), Feb 26 (NVI) In a public campaign, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) sought to rope in the support of the Americans to Balochistan’s struggle for Self-determination by apprising them of the ongoing atrocities by illegal occupant Pakistan.

The BNM activists informed the American public that the United States has provided Pakistan with billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded aid, which the Pakistani military has used to perpetuate the genocide of the Baloch nation.

The organisation has called on American citizens to support the Baloch nation’s right to self-determination, speak out against Pakistan’s ongoing atrocities in Balochistan, and demand an immediate end to all US financial and military aid to Pakistan.

As part of its awareness campaign, BNM members distributed hundreds of pamphlets in Seattle, highlighting the situation in Balochistan.

Titled “Balochistan: A Nation Under Occupation,” the pamphlet details Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Balochistan, ongoing state repression, and widespread human rights violations, according to a statement issued by the BNM.

The pamphlet also exposes Pakistan’s systematic policy of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, said BNM spokesman Qazi Dad Mohammad Rehan in the statement.

According to BNM, since 2009, Pakistan has intensified its campaign of abductions and executions under “Operation Silence.”

Thousands of Baloch have been forcibly disappeared, most of whom never returned.

BNM’s human rights organization, Paank, reported that in February 2025 alone, more than 65 people were forcibly disappeared, and three Baloch were extrajudicially killed.

BNM stressed that the wounds of colonialism remain unhealed, and the arbitrary borders drawn by colonial powers continue to cost lives. Since Pakistan’s occupation of Balochistan on March 27, 1948, the Baloch genocide has persisted.

Systematic efforts are underway to erase Baloch identity and culture, while education, healthcare, and employment are weaponized to suppress the Baloch nation.

Meanwhile, political activists, students, and intellectuals are being targeted and assassinated by Pakistani forces and their agents. (NVI)

UK welcomes fresh Indian investment of 100 Mn Pound

Representative photo.

New Delhi, Feb 26 (NVI) The United Kingdom (UK) has welcomed the fresh Indian investment of over 100 million Pounds and tens of millions worth of exports in tech and life sciences sectors.

Two senior Ministers of the UK — Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson — announced 17 new export and investment deals during their respective visits to India this week.

There are already over 950 Indian-owned companies operating in the UK and over 650 UK companies operating in India, cumulatively supporting over 600,000 jobs across both economies.

UK insurance companies in particular have gained more potential to expand in India following the recent Indian budget, which increased the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) permitted in the insurance sector from 74% to 100%.

The UK has the third largest technology economy in the world, and a number of its technology companies have also announced expansion into India, accelerating their growth journey.

“Tech and life sciences are two huge growth sectors for the UK economy. I’m proud that government support has helped some of our finest businesses in these sectors to expand into the exciting Indian market. It’s great to see them going for growth, and their successes will amount to tens of millions of pounds for the UK economy,” Reynolds said.

Recent Indian investments in the UK valued at over £100 million in total are expected to create hundreds of new jobs over the next three years in a range of sectors including AI, professional services and textiles.

These investments are proof of global investor confidence of doing business in the UK.

The trend of strong Indian investment into the UK in recent years is evident, with the last year-on-year change showing the value of inward FDI stock from India having increased 28% at the end of 2023.

India has remained the second largest investor in terms of number of projects into the UK for five consecutive years.

“The new Indian investment proves that the government’s Plan for Change is giving Indian businesses the confidence they need to continue investing in Britain. Now the UK will strive to be more ambitious and collaborative than ever before as we show the world why the UK is the best place to invest,” said Gustafsson.

On Monday, Reynolds and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced in New Delhi the relaunch of talks on a Free Trade Agreement between the UK and India that can support jobs and bring more growth across both economies.

Minister Gustafsson is visiting Mumbai and Bengaluru to bang the drum for Britain, champion free trade and promote exciting investment opportunities in the UK for Indian companies, said a statement issued by the UK High Commission here. (NVI)

1...181920...1,502Page 19 of 1,502

MUST READ