The Attack

Barely one month after the brazen suicide terrorist attack on the Pakistan Air Force [PAF] air base at Mianwali in which three ‘non-operational’ were damaged, the 10 month old Tehreek-e-Jihad [TJP] has targeted an army ‘base camp’ in the Darban area of Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber-Paktunkhwa’s [KP] killing 23 Pakistan Army soldiers.

In this horrific incident, TJP reportedly used an explosive laden vehicle alongwith a group of six terrorists, all of whom were [in the words of Pakistan Army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations [ISPR] were “effectively engaged and sent to Hell.”

ISPR’s Narrative

As per ISPR, a group of six terrorists tried to storm the base camp but “The attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted, which forced the terrorists to ram an explosive-laden vehicle into the post, followed by a suicide bombing attack.” ISPR’s account goes on to state that “The resulting blasts led to the collapse of the building, causing multiple casualties; 23 brave soldiers embraced ‘Shahadat’ [martyrdom].”

From ISPR’s account one gathers that on not being able to gain entry into the Pakistan Army post, instead of abandoning their attempt, the terrorists’ called their planners for assistance and a vehicle packed with enough explosives to demolish a building reached the spot pronto.

Questions Arise

While there should have been no reasons to doubt ISPR’s account, its narrative raises several questions. Firstly, if the terrorists had an explosive laden vehicle so handy, then why didn’t they use it for this attack in the first place? Secondly, since terrorists engage in ‘hit and run’ attacks, keeping an explosive laden vehicle as ‘backup’ doesn’t make sense.

Lastly, unlike the armed forces and law enforcement agencies which follow a policy of ‘graduated response’, terrorists the world over believe in ensuring ‘overkill’ by applying maximum force ab initio. Hence, ISPR’s claim that terrorists used an explosive-laden vehicle to facilitate entry of the suicide squad into the post when their attempt to do so was “effectively thwarted” isn’t compelling enough.

Damage Assessment

The Express Tribune has posted a 1 min 45 sec long post-attack video of the building purportedly targeted by the explosive laden vehicle [https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449762/at-least-23-soldiers-martyred-in-di-khan-attack-ispr]. In this video a large cavity in the wall and blown out windows is visible which supports the claim of an explosive laden vehicle being used. However, after seeing the video it’s apparent that ISPR’s contention of the building having collapsed due to the blast killing 23 soldiers is completely untrue.

Firstly, in the video it can be clearly seen that except for the damaged windows and a large hole in wall, the building is intact. Secondly, an overhead tank on top of the building that supposedly collapsed is clearly visible and intact- which would not have been the case had the roof collapsed. Lastly, had the roof of the building really collapsed, its interiors would be flushed with sunlight just like its surroundings. However, what one sees through five windows and one large opening are dark interiors which clearly indicate that the roof of this building is intact.

Damage Control?

ISPR has only given information regarding fatal casualties. However, The Express Tribune has quoted a state-run rescue service official named Aizaz Mehmood saying that several people were wounded and in critical condition and this puts a big question mark on ISPR’s pompous “all six terrorists were effectively engaged and sent to hell” claim. So, it’s obvious that ISPR is trying to play down the inordinately high fatalities due to terrorist action by peddling the building collapse story to cover up the reality.

This is not the first time the Pakistan Army’s media wing has been economical with the truth. Just last month it claimed that only “non-operational” aircraft were damaged by TJP terrorists during the Mianwali airbase suicide attack and the security forces suffered no casualties. If true, then this rare occurrence should certainly make it to Ripley’s ‘Believe it or Not’!

Similarly, in February 2022, while ISPR claimed that all Baloch Liberation Army fighters who had forced their way into the Frontier Corps camp in Panjgur had been eliminated, Pakistan’s then Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid admitted on TV that 4-5 attackers were still alive and engaging Pakistani security forces.

And who can ever forget the then ISPR chief Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor claim after the February 27, 2019 air combat that Pakistan had taken two Indian Air Force [IAF] pilots into custody. While Wg Cdr Abhinandan was produced before the media, DG ISPR maintained that the other IAF pilot was undergoing treatment in a Combined Military Hospital, but backtracked within just a few hours.  

Respecting Fallen Soldiers

In combat situations it’s the wish of every soldier that if death comes, it should be from the enemy’s bullet and not due to an accident like his vehicle falling into a gorge or a building or roof falling on him. So, soldiers killed by TJP terrorists being shown as having died as the result of a roof collapse just to downplay the incident and save the Pakistan Army’s top brass from embarrassment, is to say the least, an unpardonable and downright disgusting act.

But for an army that refused to accept the mortal remains of its own soldiers killed in combat during the 1999 Kargil War, disregarding sentiments of the near and dear ones of deceased soldiers is no big deal. Nevertheless, Rawalpindi must not forget that while a soldier’s death in fighting terrorists can conveniently be attributed to roof collapse, truth cannot be buried indefinitely.

Dead soldiers do deserve respect.

Israel faced its most severe combat losses in over a month on Wednesday, after an ambush in Gaza City’s ruins and faced increased diplomatic isolation as civilian casualties grew, and the humanitarian crisis worsened. Intense fighting persisted in both northern and southern Gaza, following the United Nations’ call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Israel’s global influence is also at stake as U.S. President Joe Biden criticized Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of civilians, noting its negative impact on international support.

Meanwhile, an Israeli minister declared that the war would continue ‘with or without’ international support. Israeli warplanes conducted further bombings across Gaza, aggravating conditions for hundreds of thousands living in makeshift tents amid winter rain. The majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has been displaced so far.

Initially receiving global sympathy, Israel launched a campaign to eradicate the Hamas militant group controlling Gaza after an incursion on Oct. 7 which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and the capture of 240 hostages.

However, since then, Israel has blockaded Gaza and caused extensive destruction. Gaza’s health ministry reported over 18,600 fatalities and 50,600 injuries due to Israeli strikes since Oct. 7, with many more potentially trapped in debris or inaccessible to ambulances.

In Rafah, southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands sought refuge, a family killed in an overnight airstrike, including several young children, lay covered in blood-soaked shrouds in the rain. One child, the size of a newborn, was wrapped in a pink blanket.

Moreover, Israel’s military continued raids in Jenin, West Bank, for a third consecutive day, which has further complicated situations for Israel at the international level. It resulted in the deaths of 11 civilians and injuring 10. Amidst all of this, pro-Palestinian hackers breached the Israeli army’s website earlier today.

Recent reports suggest that IDF has launched an attack on Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon that has killed one terrorist. It comes a couple of days after the terrorist group attacked northern Israel with 12 lethal attacks in merely 24 hours. The tense situation underscores that peace is still a long way ahead and the crisis potentially can become protracted.

The Pakistan Supreme Court has made a conditional decision to permit the civilian trial in military court, temporarily suspending its previous unanimous ruling from October 23 that had invalidated the jurisdiction of military trials for civilians.

In a six-member bench, the court voted 5-1 in favor of the verdict, with Justice Musarrat Hilali dissenting. The decision was announced during the hearing of a series of intra-court appeals challenging the prior order.

Interestingly, Attorney General Mansoor Awan advocated for the conditional resumption of military court trials of civilian suspects, prompting the court to grant conditional permission for continuing trials. However, the military courts are not authorized to issue a final verdict against the suspects.

Furthermore, the court clarified that the ultimate judgment would be contingent upon subsequent orders from the Supreme Court. The Pakistan Army controlled caretaker federal government, along with provincial administrations in Pakistan-occupied Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab, alongside the defense ministry, had collectively appealed against the prior judgment by filing intra-court appeals.

The recent judgement yet again underscores that the law in Pakistan is conveniently modified as per the requirement of the authoritarian Pakistan Army. Civilian trial in military court is clearly a violation of the human rights of the people.

The UNGA passed a resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, marking a rebuke against the US, which had previously blocked a similar resolution in the Security Council. With 153 nations in favor, 10 against, and 23 abstentions, the nonbinding resolution holds significant political weight. On the other hand, Israel has started pumping sea water in tunnel in Gaza

Heightened Conflict

At Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, Iranian-backed fighters, including Hezbollah, executed 12 attacks from southern Lebanon. Despite ongoing Israeli defense operations that have notably diminished Hamas’s capabilities, Khan Yunis, once deemed a safer zone, has become a primary battleground due to intensified Israeli assaults. Reports indicate Palestinian militias resisting Israeli attacks from Khan Yunis’ north and east fronts, launching seven such counteroffensives. Over a million individuals have fled northern Gaza since October 13, with approximately 215,000 seeking refuge in UNRWA camps within Khan Yunis.

Escalation in West Bank and development in Gaza

Simultaneously, the situation in the West Bank has deteriorated, amplifying international pressure on Israel. Seventeen clashes between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces have been documented, alongside reported attacks on Palestinians by settlers.

Meanwhile, Israel has started to pump sea water in tunnel network operated by Hamas in Gaza, which are used as launchpads and shelters. Amidst various apprehensions regarding environmental and Humanitarian concerns, Israel has clarified that there are no hostages in these tunnels.

In a devastating assault in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, near the Afghan border, at least 23 Pakistan Army personnel lost their lives while numerous others sustained injuries. The terrorist attack occurred in the early hours yesterday, as militants orchestrated a violent onslaught targeting the Pakistan Army base camp in Dera Ismail Khan.

The assailants’ tactics involved a vehicle laden with explosives ramming into the compound, triggering chaos and destruction. Prior to this, the militants attempted to breach the compound but were thwarted, prompting the subsequent vehicular assault.

Following the vehicle’s impact on the compound’s boundary wall, a harrowing suicide bomb attack ensued, resulting in the collapse of the building. The incident claimed the lives of numerous individuals who were asleep at the time. It is reported that there was an explosion of ammunition stored within the compound.

Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), the militant faction affiliated with the TTP has claimed responsibility for this audacious terrorist attack. Subsequent military operations in the area led to the elimination of six attackers, with a total of 27 militants reported killed.

Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul-Haq Kakar and caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti vehemently condemned the assault. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Syrus Sajjad Qazi, called on the envoy of to promptly communicate to the Taliban government in Afghanistan, emphasizing the necessity for a thorough investigation and decisive measures concerning the issue. Since past year the attacks orchestrated by the newly emerged militant group Tahreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) have significantly increased.

This falls in line with withdrawal of the hard-line Islamist militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from a ceasefire last year. Notably, Islamabad has consistently alleged that insurgents operate from regions across the Afghan border, a claim staunchly denied by the Afghan Taliban. This grim incident adds to the series of violent episodes, including the attack on Mianwali airbase last month and January bombing at a mosque in Peshawar that claimed the lives of at least 100 people. Despite initial denial by the TTP, attributions were made to a commander of a breakaway faction.

Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh is no hidden fact. Being a minority, Hindus face multiple type of existential challenges there. In the latest development, a call has been made by a Muslim students and their parents to ban the admission of Hindu students in government schools.

The case of this religious discrimination has emerged in Bangladesh’s Chattagram town. As per reports by Hindu Voice, just before the start of the academic year, which starts from January in Bangladesh, some Muslim students and their parents have demanded that the Hindu students should not be given admission to the Government Muslim Higher Secondary School. After making their demands, they also staged a protest along with placards and banners in the school premises.  

Since the concerned school is state owned, this has raised outrage in the Hindu community, who are concerned about such religious discrimination in a state-owned institution. As of now no explanation has been provided by the administration.

Considerably, the hate crimes against Hindus have persisted for long and have only increased in the past few months in Bangladesh. This increase in religious persecution is more concerning given the fact that the country is poised to choose a national government in a few months and the political situations are tumultuous. Accordingly, this worsening condition is only making the Hindu community more vulnerable.