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Kyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Ceasefire ends deadly Shia-Sunni clashes in Kurram

Shiite and Sunni Muslim tribes in Khyber Paskhtunkhwa’s volatile Kurram district have agreed to a fragile ceasefire following days of brutal sectarian violence that claimed over 80 lives, including women and children. The unrest was sparked by an ambush on a Shiite convoy last Thursday, where at least 42 people were killed, triggering a wave of retaliatory violence that engulfed the region.

The clashes, which unfolded in the province near the Afghan border, highlight the long-standing sectarian tensions in Pakistan, particularly in Kurram, a district with a significant Shiite population in an overwhelmingly Sunni-majority country. The region, historically plagued by sectarian violence and militant activity, has seen its residents caught in a deadly cycle of violence perpetuated by the Pak Army’s inability—or unwillingness—to curb the violence.

A spokesperson for the provincial government, Muhammad Ali Saif, confirmed on Sunday that a seven-day ceasefire had been brokered after extensive negotiations with elders from both communities. “The parties also agreed to exchange prisoners and return the bodies of the deceased,” Saif announced, revealing that women were among those being held as prisoners.

While the occupied-authority portrays this ceasefire as a success, it does nothing to address the root causes of the violence. Kurram’s sectarian strife has deep historical roots, further exacerbated by a longstanding land dispute that remains unresolved. Although the attack on the convoy initially appeared to be sectarian, it is believed that the violence was deliberately fueled by external actors, with the tacit approval of Punjabi Pak Army-backed elements seeking to destabilize the already vulnerable Shiite minority.

No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s ambush, but questions linger over the role of extremist networks that operate with near-impunity in Pakistan, often targeting Shiite Muslims. The Pak Army’s track record of failing to protect minorities, coupled with its complicity in fostering sectarian militancy, has turned Kurram into a powder keg of religious and ethnic tensions.

Adding to the crisis, over 300 families have reportedly fled the violence-ridden area in search of safety. Mobile networks remain suspended across the district, and the main highway is still blocked, cutting off the region from essential supplies and aid. The ceasefire, while a temporary relief, does little to assure the Shiite community of long-term security in an establishment that has repeatedly failed to deliver justice.

Quetta protests decade long abduction of Baloch student Nazeebullah Badini by Pak Army

Marking a decade since the enforced disappearance of Nazeebullah Badini, a young Baloch student from Nushki, his family, along with Baloch political activists and students, staged a protest outside the Quetta Press Club. The demonstration echoed long-standing demands for justice, accountability, and an end to Pakistan’s systematic policy of enforced disappearances in Pak-occupied-Balochistan.

Protesters, including families of other missing persons such as Rashid Langov, carried photographs of their loved ones and banners calling for their immediate recovery. The participants decried the colonial and oppressive tactics employed by the Paki establishment, where abductions, extrajudicial killings, and suppression of dissent have become Pak Army policy.

According to Nazeebullah’s family, he was abducted on November 25, 2014, by Pak security forces in broad daylight from Chagai Stop, Nushki. At the time, Nazeebullah was a twelfth-grade student focused on his studies. His sister, Mahpara Baloch, criticized the Army’s blatant targeting of the Baloch youth, stating, “Nazeebullah is being punished for nothing more than being Baloch. He has been languishing in unknown prisons for ten years while the judiciary and state institutions remain complicit in their silence.”

She added, “We pursued every legal avenue, but the so-called justice system has failed us. If there are charges against Nazeebullah, let him be brought before the courts. But ten years have passed, and we have yet to receive even a semblance of justice.”

Quetta Protest

Speakers at the Quetta protest emphasized that enforced disappearances are part of Pakistan’s systematic suppression of Baloch voices, a practice ongoing for decades. Human rights organizations estimate that over 40,000 Baloch individuals—students, journalists, and political activists—have been forcibly disappeared. Many of their mutilated bodies have been recovered in infamously known as Pakistan’s “kill and dump” policy, while thousands remain missing.

The protestors lambasted the Pak Army for treating POB as a colonial outpost, exploiting its natural resources while silencing dissent through brute force. “Enforced disappearances are not isolated incidents; they are part of a calculated strategy to erase Baloch identity and crush resistance against the military occupation of Balochistan,” said one protester.

The protestors also highlighted the lack of action by the international community, which continues to turn a blind eye to Pakistan’s atrocities in POB. They urged global human rights organizations and world powers to hold Pakistan accountable for its grave human rights violations and to pressure the state into ending the cycle of oppression in POB.

Alongside the protest, a social media campaign is set to take place from 8 PM to midnight on X, amplifying the demand for justice for Nazeebullah Badini and the thousands of other forcibly disappeared individuals in POB.

For the people of POB, the issue of enforced disappearances is not just a human rights crisis but a reflection of decades of Army-led marginalization and violence aimed at extinguishing the Baloch struggle for self-determination. Ten years after Nazeebullah’s abduction, his family and thousands of others continue to fight for justice in a region abandoned by Pakistan’s institutions and neglected by the global community.

Bangladeshi Muslims continue to abduct and forcefully ‘marry’ Hindu girls

In yet another grim reminder of the deteriorating state of minority rights in Bangladesh, a 15-year-old Hindu girl, Swapna Rani Ghosh, from the Bagura district has been forcibly converted to Islam and married to a Muslim youth. This brazen act of coercion highlights the deepening crisis of religious persecution against the Hindu community in the country. Swapna’s family has alleged that her documents were deliberately forged to falsely show her as 18 years old, a tactic frequently employed to bypass legal scrutiny.

Adding insult to injury, Swapna, like countless other victims, appeared in a scripted video parroting statements prepared by Islamist Dawah groups to legitimize her conversion. Such videos, designed to silence opposition and justify the forced conversions, have become a chilling hallmark of the systematic targeting of Hindu girls in Bangladesh.

Reports of the militant organization Jamaat-e-Islami being involved in the forced conversion of Ritu Chakraborty, another minor Hindu girl, have further exposed the complicit silence of the Bangladeshi government. The growing influence of radical groups, coupled with the state’s indifference, has emboldened these elements to continue their campaign of erasure against Hindu minorities.

The issue goes beyond individual cases of forced conversions. Members of the Tripuri Hindu community, an indigenous group in Bangladesh, are facing relentless pressure to abandon their faith. Reports indicate that local figures, often backed by financial incentives and political protection, are actively working to convert members of this vulnerable community. Alongside religious persecution, Tripuri Hindus are battling issues like land-grabbing and cultural erosion, further marginalizing them in their ancestral homeland.

The Bangladeshi government’s inability—or unwillingness—to act has left the Hindu minority community in a perilous situation. Despite international outcry, Dhaka continues to ignore the rampant forced conversions, allowing Islamist groups to operate unchecked. This failure not only violates Bangladesh’s constitutional promise of religious freedom but also raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to safeguarding its minority citizens.

Pakistan: Shias torch markets in Kurram after Parachinar massacre

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan witnessed another devastating blow to peace as armed Shias torched a market in Bagan, Kurram District, in retaliation for the massacre of 110 Shia civilians by Sunnis. On the surface, the unrest appears to be fueled by Sunni-Shia sectarian divides or local land disputes, but the deeper and more sinister motives of the Punjabi Pak Army are becoming glaringly evident.

For centuries, Sunni and Shia Pashtuns have coexisted peacefully in Kurram, relying on their traditional jirga system to mediate disputes. However, in recent years, the region has been engulfed in cycles of orchestrated violence. The Pakistan Army, notorious for its colonial tactics, has deliberately stoked unrest to further its geopolitical and financial agenda. Kurram’s strategic location on the Afghanistan border makes it a prime target for military exploitation, and the Army’s endgame is to displace local Pashtuns through bloodshed and chaos to pave the way for its so-called “New Dollar War.”

Despite the Army’s machinations, the resilient Pashtun communities of Kurram have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to peace. In October, Sunni and Shia youth gathered in a historic Pashtun National Court Jirga, rejecting sectarian hatred and reaffirming their centuries-old solidarity. They boldly called for the withdrawal of the Punjabi- Pakistan Army, demanding that lingering issues be resolved through their indigenous jirga system. The unity displayed by the Pashtun youth was a direct threat to the Army’s divide-and-conquer strategy.

Predictably, the Army responded in its typical fashion: by fueling fresh violence to derail these peace efforts. As plans for a Kurram Jirga gained momentum, violence erupted again, with armed groups unleashing terror at the Army’s behest. The timing and precision of these attacks leave little doubt about the Army’s role in perpetuating the bloodshed.

The tragedy in Kurram is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of Paki establishment-sponsored oppression against the Pashtuns. From the massacres at Babara, Takkar, and Qissa Khwani to the Kharqamar killings and the Army Public School tragedy, the Pashtuns have long been the victims of Pakistan’s military aggression. The bloodshed in Kurram adds yet another chapter to this grim history of systemic oppression.

Kotli: POJK protests escalate against Pakistan’s draconian ordinance

The simmering outrage against the controversial Presidential Ordinance reached a boiling point in Kotli city of Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) on November 21. A peaceful protest led by students escalated into a violent confrontation when Pak police resorted to heavy-handed measures, including firing and shelling. Protesters retaliated, burning two police vehicles near the PWD guest house. The clashes left multiple citizens and police personnel injured.

The ordinance, widely condemned as a “black law,” seeks to suppress dissent and curtail the Kashmiri people’s right to protest. It imposes draconian penalties, including up to seven years of imprisonment, hefty fines, and immediate detention for participants in unauthorized demonstrations. Even recognized political parties and unions are required to secure prior approval from Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and submit detailed plans for gatherings, a move aimed at silencing dissent entirely.

The people of Kotli, however, have made their stance clear. Declaring they will defy any law imposed at the behest of the occupying forces, residents are determined to resist an unconstitutional assault on their freedoms. This defiance has sparked a wave of protests across the region, including Mirpur, Rawalakot, and Muzaffarabad, with the momentum steadily growing.

In Kotli, the occupied-state’s response has been particularly brutal. Tear gas was fired near schools during dismissal time, leaving women and children trapped in nearby shops and exacerbating public outrage. The Army-government’s use of force against peaceful protesters highlights its growing desperation to quell resistance in a region where Kashmiri voices are rising louder against repression.

The ordinance is yet another attempt by the Paki establishment to tighten its grip on PoJK, using authoritarian tactics to stifle any movement for autonomy or justice. The move is a direct attack on the region’s identity and fundamental rights, comparing it to other oppressive policies that have systematically disenfranchised the Kashmiri people under Paki establishment’s rule.

BLA launches coordinated attacks on Pak Army across POB

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has launched a series of targeted attacks against the Pakistan Army and its collaborators in Noshki, Quetta, and Turbat. In a statement issued by BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, the group detailed three separate operations, which they assert were carried out in retaliation to the military’s ongoing aggression and human rights violations in Pak-occupied-Balochistan. The attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including a state informant, and injuries to four Pak soldiers.

The first attack occurred on Thursday night in the Gorbarat area of Noshki, where BLA fighters ambushed Pak military personnel engaged in operations against local civilians. Using automatic weapons and grenade launchers, the fighters killed two soldiers on the spot and injured four others. The spokesperson said that the Pakistan Army was conducting a violent campaign of terror in Noshki since November 19, targeting civilian populations in Manjro, Mokhbili, Gorbarat, and surrounding areas. The military set homes ablaze and indiscriminately fired mortar shells and rockets, causing widespread destruction and displacement among the local population.

Jeeyand Baloch condemned these actions as part of a broader campaign by the Pakistan Army to suppress the Baloch people and seize control of their lands. He emphasized that the BLA remains resolute in its mission to protect the Baloch population and warned that any aggression would be met with fierce resistance.

BLA Hits Pak Army Posts

In a second operation, BLA fighters targeted and eliminated a state informant in Quetta. Nasibullah, also known as “Chhiya,” was shot dead in the Killi Beig area of Saryab Road. According to the BLA, Nasibullah had surrendered to the military alongside another collaborator, Habib Khan Marri, and subsequently worked as a key operative for the intelligence agencies. The spokesperson added that Nasibullah was instrumental in forming an informant network under the supervision of a Pakistan Army officer, Major Sher Jan. He was also accused of direct involvement in the abduction and extrajudicial killing of Zahoor Marri, a prominent Baloch activist whose mutilated body was found after his forced disappearance.

The BLA claimed to have seized Nasibullah’s mobile phone, uncovering critical information about the informant network operating under the Pakistan Army’s direction. The group stated that further operations against these collaborators are imminent.

Later the same night, the BLA attacked a military checkpoint on Airport Road in Turbat, using hand grenades to inflict casualties and damage on the Pak forces stationed there. The spokesperson said that this operation was a continuation of their efforts to disrupt the military’s oppressive control over Balochistan.

The BLA’s statement also highlighted the Pakistan Army’s long history of violence and exploitation in POB, as Paki establishment is committing war crimes and systematically suppressing Baloch voices. The group criticized the establishment for its colonial mindset, and as it plunders POB’s resources while silencing dissent through forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the use of informants to target activists.

The statement concluded with a vow to intensify their resistance against the occupying forces, reiterating that the BLA would continue to target both the Pakistan Army and its collaborators as part of their struggle for Baloch liberation.

Bangladeshi muslims attack and harass Hindus during Rangpur rally

In a stark display of state-backed oppression, Hindu protesters in Bangladesh were met with brutal force and obstruction as they attempted to attend a rally in Rangpur organized by the Samilito Sanatani Jagran Manch. The rally, which sought to draw attention to the systematic persecution of Hindus under the authoritarian regime of Md Yunus, was aggressively disrupted by the police and radical Islamist groups.

Police forces reportedly stopped buses and cars carrying Hindu participants, preventing many from reaching the rally site. In numerous instances, protesters were subjected to physical violence, with some being beaten by law enforcement. A particularly heinous attack occurred when a Hindu man on his way to the protest was assaulted by members of the banned militant organization Jamaat-e-Islami, leaving him hospitalized with severe injuries.

The Hindu minority in Bangladesh has long endured systemic violence, but the events in Rangpur underscore the worsening conditions under the Yunus government. Despite the rally being a peaceful demonstration against extremist policies and the growing marginalization of minorities, the regime’s response was emblematic of its undemocratic and oppressive approach. The collaboration between state forces and Islamist extremists further highlights the precarious position of Hindus in the country.

Amid the violence, the resilience of the Hindu community shone through. Thousands braved the threats and repression to gather, voicing their demands for justice and safety.

Pak Army enforces Section 144 to curb increasing protests & strikes in POB

In response to the worsening law and order situation, the occupied-Balochistan government has enforced Section 144 across the province. The decision aims to curb unrest as protests and demonstrations continue to mount against enforced disappearances and other grievances.

A notification issued by the Home Department of Balochistan announced a ban on carrying weapons and public gatherings of more than five people. Authorities have vowed strict enforcement of the order, including a crackdown on illegal assemblies and the use of firearms.

The move comes amid heightened tensions in the province. In Awaran, a sit-in protest persists against the enforced disappearance of Diljan Baloch, while in Quetta, demonstrators at Serena Chowk have been demanding the recovery of missing student Muhammad Masoor for the past nine days.

Adding to the unrest, an all-parties coalition has called for a province-wide shutdown strike on November 25 to protest the state’s inaction on critical issues.

The imposition of Section 144 highlights the volatile situation in POB, where tensions between the occupied-authorities and local communities continue to escalate over issues such as enforced disappearances, lack of accountability, and suppression of dissent.

Amid Pak Army’s orchestrated violence more than fifty Shias killed in Kurram

In a harrowing incident, violence erupted in Parachinar, Kurram district, where more than 100 Shia passenger vans traveling in a convoy were ambushed by Deobandi Muslim residents of Bagan, Charlhail, and Manduri in Lower Kurram. The brutal attack claimed the lives of over 50 individuals, including women and infants, leaving scores injured. The region, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and bordering Afghanistan’s Khost and Loya Paktia regions, has become a flashpoint of violence since the Taliban’s rise to power, with thousands killed in escalating conflicts.

While the unrest is often attributed to Sunni-Shia sectarian divides or internecine land disputes, these explanations fail to capture the deeper motives. Sunni and Shia Pashtuns have coexisted in Kurram for centuries without such atrocities, raising questions about the recent surge in violence. The region’s strategic importance has increased for the Pakistan Army, as they are deliberately stoking unrest to force residents to flee, clearing the area for geopolitical and financial gains for the “New Dollar War.”

This violence is not unique to Kurram. Similar bloodshed has been reported in Bajaur, Waziristan, Bannu, and other Pashtun-majority areas, where no Sunni-Shia tensions or significant land disputes exist. The Paki establishment is actively fueling conflicts under various pretexts to assert control and exploit the region’s resources.

Kurram’s Tragedy

Historically, disputes in Kurram have been resolved through Pashtun-led jirgas, with little to no involvement from the occupied-Army-state. In the past two years, Pashtuns from Bangash, Orakzai, and Hangu have successfully mediated peace through such traditional councils. On October 11, Sunni and Shia youth sat together in a Pashtun National Court Jirga, reaffirming their commitment to peace. They jointly demanded the withdrawal of the Punjabi Pak Army from Kurram and called for a jirga to resolve lingering issues.

However, as plans for a Kurram Jirga were finalized this month, violence erupted again. The Punjabi Pak Army, threatened by the prospect of Pashtun unity, signaled armed groups to incite bloodshed and derail local peace efforts.

This tragic attack is now being compared to other infamous incidents of Pashtun suffering, such as Babara, Takkar, Qissa Khwani, Kharqamar, and the Army Public School massacre. For the Pashtuns, Kurram’s bloodshed is yet another dark chapter in their history of systemic oppression, one they vow to neither forgive nor forget.

Slogans for independence from Paki regime echoes across PoGB

Slogans of independence reverberated across Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB), reflecting the region’s deepening resentment against the exploitative policies of the Paki establishment. Decades of systematic neglect, combined with the recent introduction of a controversial land reform bill, have exacerbated the anger of local residents, who now view Islamabad’s control as a colonial stranglehold on their resources and future.

The newly proposed land reform bill has sparked outrage for its blatant disregard of local rights and its opaque provisions. Lawyers and activists have condemned the bill, highlighting its potential to allow the government to seize both partible and impartible lands, with the bill’s vague definitions deliberately leaving room for abuse. Points 1, 2, and 4 of the bill, as cited by the lawyers, are particularly egregious, posing direct threats to the personal interests of the residents. Adding insult to injury, the bill includes provisions exempting its representatives from impeachment or legal accountability, enabling unchecked corruption. These representatives are mere puppets of the occupied-government, serve Islamabad’s interests at the expense of their own people.

Legal professionals and bar associations across PoGB, including the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association, have united in protest, demanding urgent amendments to safeguard public interests, particularly in the region’s unsettled areas, where the bill’s implications are most damaging. Among the most controversial provisions is the appointment of a non-local secretary planner, a move that disregards the unique jurisdictional needs of PoGB and further alienates its people.

PoGB Demands Freedom

Meanwhile, the exploitation of PoGB’s rich natural resources continues unabated. The region, known for its vast deposits of gold, copper, and rare earth minerals, has become a target for foreign entities operating under Islamabad’s watchful eye. These extraction projects are shrouded in secrecy, with no transparency or consultation with local communities. As minerals are siphoned off to line the pockets of the Punjabi elite, the people of PoGB are left impoverished and powerless, excluded from any share in their own wealth.

The situation is worsened by the abysmal state of infrastructure and basic services in the region. Roads and bridges lie in disrepair, and development projects are perpetually delayed or abandoned. Education, a critical tool for empowerment, has been weaponized against the people of PoGB. A deliberate recruitment ban on new teachers has left students struggling without adequate instruction, a calculated move to suppress education and prevent the population from challenging Islamabad’s oppressive control.

While the people of PoGB endure exploitation and neglect, political and religious leaders across the region remain conspicuously silent. Their complicity speaks volumes about their allegiance to Islamabad, prioritizing their political survival over the welfare of the people they claim to represent.

The Paki establishment’s deliberate strategy to suppress the region—economically, politically, and socially—is a stark reminder of its exploitative agenda. For the people of PoGB, the path forward lies in resistance, as their voices grow louder in demanding autonomy, dignity, and justice.