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North Waziristan women block roads to protest enforced disappearances by Pak Army

A nomadic woman and her daughters blocked a road in North Waziristan to protest the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of three male members of her family. The protest highlights the growing frustration and despair among the Pashtun community in Pakistan’s former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), where such incidents have become a daily reality.

The Pashtun regions, particularly North and South Waziristan, have long been subjected to the oppressive policies of the Punjabi-Pakistan Army, which continues to wield unchecked power in these areas. Enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and brutal crackdowns on civilians have become a routine practice, leaving the local population in a state of perpetual fear.

This latest incident serves as a grim reminder of the plight of the Pashtun people, whose voices are continuously silenced under the oppressive policies of Pakistan’s military establishment. The region has witnessed decades of violence, exploitation, and suppression, with little to no accountability for the actions of the military.

Islamabad sees massive rally demanding release of former Pak PM Imran Khan

Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, gathered in Islamabad on Sunday, defying authorities’ attempts to block access to the capital. The demonstration, organized by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, marks one of the largest protests since the ex-cricketer was jailed in 2023 on multiple charges, many of which remain under legal scrutiny.

Protesters bypassed barriers, including shipping containers placed by the authorities to block major roads into the capital. “Despite their efforts to shut down the city, thousands have turned up. They cannot suppress the people’s determination,” said PTI Senator Humayun Mohmand.

Imran Khan, imprisoned since August 2023, has maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated, aimed at preventing his return to power. After rising to prominence in 2018 by campaigning against corruption, Khan was ousted in 2022 following a fallout with the military, which holds significant power in Pakistan’s political landscape. His removal has fueled frustration among Pakistanis who oppose military involvement in civilian politics.

Sunday’s demonstration, though largely peaceful, saw clashes between police and PTI activists. Khan’s arrest in 2023 on corruption charges led to widespread protests and a harsh crackdown by the Pak Army.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: Border clashes surge between Pak Army & Afghan Taliban

At least eight Afghan Taliban soldiers, including two key commanders, have been killed in the recent exchange of mortar fire in the Shorko area of Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where at least five Pak security personnel and seven Afghan Taliban were injured. The exchange over the weekend, also injured 16 Afghan Taliban soldiers. This incident is just one in a series of violent confrontations that reflect the deep-seated issues plaguing the two nations.

The Kurram-Khost border area has recently witnessed repeated clashes between Pak forces and Afghan Talibans, much of which stems from Pakistan’s own destabilizing policies in Afghanistan. Terrorists like the TTP, which Pakistan’s military leadership once supported, have now turned on their creators.

Islamabad’s attempt to stem the rise of the TTP has been a patchwork of inconsistent policies—ranging from negotiations to military operations, border fencing, and mass expulsions of Afghan refugees. While the Paki establishment accuses the Afghan Taliban of sheltering TTP terrorists, the root cause of these issues can be traced back to Pakistan’s own duplicity. The very extremists it once armed and supported to wage proxy wars are now threatening its own stability.

The erection of a border fence and the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees—over 500,000 last October, with plans to deport another 800,000—are desperate attempts by Pakistan to control the blowback of its failed policies.

Despite these efforts, the TTP continues to launch cross-border attacks, exposing the futility of Islamabad’s military-centric approach. By weaponizing extremist factions, Rawalpindi has lost control of the monster it created.

Pak Army’s aggressive military operations escalate in Bolan & Mastung

The Pakistan Army has intensified its aggressive operations in the Bolan and Mastung regions of Pak-occupied Balochistan. Reportedly, military helicopters are continuously patrolling the skies, while ground forces face growing resistance from the local population.

The Army, notorious for its brutal tactics in POB, has been conducting large-scale operations in the Machh area of Bolan and its surrounding regions. There’s presence of at least six military helicopters, further escalating tensions in the already volatile region. Alongside these aerial maneuvers, a significant movement of troops on the ground has been observed, raising fears of further oppression and violence against the Baloch people, who have long been subjected to systemic exploitation and human rights abuses by the military.

In the neighboring region of Mastung, helicopter flights are also ongoing in the Spilinji area. In a sign of rising resistance to the Pak Army’s unchecked power, reports suggest that ground forces have been targeted in a bomb explosion, though officials have not provided any details.

This surge in military activity reflects the Pakistan Army’s relentless campaign to suppress dissent in POB, where it has a long-standing history of committing human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and the exploitation of local resources for the benefit of the Punjab’s elite. Despite the Army’s attempts to quash the resistance, the continued unrest suggests that the people of POB are no longer willing to remain silent in the face of oppression.

Lakki Marwat: Afghan Taliban kills police officer & his brother

In the Aba Khel area of Lakki Marwat, the Afghan Taliban have reportedly killed a police officer, Safiullah, and his brother. Naveed-ullah, a local coordinator of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), and his elder brother, Hafiz Saif-ullah, were brutally shot and killed by Afghan Taliban.

Afghan Taliban said that Safiullah and his brother were involved in working for intelligence agencies. They were falsely accused of conducting operations against the Taliban and demolishing their homes. This latest targeted killing underscores the increasing brutality faced by the Pashtun community, which has long been subjected to state oppression, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.

In a separate incident, the Taliban attacked a police post in the Osin Khel area of Tajuji Tehsil, Lakki Marwat. Following the attack, police personnel fled the post, and the Taliban took control of the post and its equipment.

JSFM condemn sentences by Paki establishment of two JSFM activists

The Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) has sharply condemned the recent sentencing of two key activists, Arbab Bhail and Halar Chang, as part of a broader crackdown orchestrated by the Pak Army. The sentencing of Bhail to 10 years in prison with a fine of 200,000 and Chang’s 14-year sentence have been denounced as attempts to suppress the Sindhi nationalist movement and the legacy of G.M. Syed.

According to the JSFM, the Pakistan military and its associated institutions are implementing a new strategy to eliminate the Sindhi nationalist movement. This strategy reportedly involves targeting politically active leaders and activists through violent means and oppressive legal measures. The recent sentences are seen as part of a larger pattern of repression that includes arbitrary arrests, torture, and fabricated charges.

The JSFM has criticized the Pak Army for its brutal tactics, which include:

  • Targeting and injuring political leaders and activists through gunfire.
  • Executing individuals extrajudicially.
  • Engaging in forced disappearances, torture, and the creation of false Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) cases to secure long prison sentences.

These actions are said to aim at instilling fear and preventing political activism within Sindh.

The situation escalated recently in Hyderabad, where six nationalist activists were abducted, shot, and subsequently hospitalized. Notably, Goru Sindhi (Jameel Shoro), a prominent JSFM leader, was assassinated by Pak Army agents while returning from visiting the injured activists. This incident has further highlighted the extreme measures employed by the Pak military against the Sindhi nationalist movement.

The JSFM leaders said that the Paki establishment’s relentless repression, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings, is designed to dismantle the Sindhi nationalist movement and intimidate its supporters. Despite the severity of the crackdown, they vow to continue their struggle for Sindh’s independence, asserting that the repression only strengthens their resolve.

Indian Army neutralises two Pak-backed terrorists in anti-infiltration operation in J&K

In a successful anti-infiltration operation conducted by the Indian Army, two terrorists were neutralized, and a significant cache of weaponry, including two AK-47 rifles and one pistol, was recovered. The operation took place during the night of September 8 and 9 in the Nowshera region of Jammu and Kashmir.

The White Knight Corps reported that the operation, named “Operation Kanchi,” was launched based on intelligence gathered from both the Jammu and Kashmir Police and intelligence agencies regarding an infiltration attempt. The search was carried out in the general area of Lam in Nowshera.

In a statement on the social media platform X, the White Knight Corps confirmed, “Based on inputs from intelligence agencies and Jammu-Kashmir Police regarding a likely infiltration bid, an anti-infiltration operation was launched by the Indian Army on the intervening night of September 8-9 in the general area of Lam, Nowshera. Two terrorists have been neutralized, and a large quantity of warlike stores, including two AK-47s and one pistol, have been recovered thus far.”

The operation is still ongoing in the region.

Earlier, on August 29, the Indian Army successfully neutralized three terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Machhal and Tangdhar sectors of Jammu and Kashmir.

An official press release said, “Credible inputs were received from intelligence agencies, which were further corroborated by J-K Police regarding likely infiltration attempts from these areas. Based on these inputs, troops from the Indian Army, JKP, and BSF laid ambushes on likely infiltration routes in both the Machhal and Tangdhar sectors.”

Around 8 PM, ambush teams in the Machhal sector detected terrorists moving through dense foliage, approximately 600 meters from the LoC. The terrorists were challenged, leading to an intense exchange of fire. Simultaneously, in the Tangdhar sector, another firefight occurred around 9 PM, approximately 100 meters from the LoC. Both sectors experienced heavy gunfire.

In these encounters, two terrorists were eliminated in the Machhal sector and one in the Tangdhar sector.

Pak Army executes two Baloch brothers after dragging them from their home

In a distressing incident in Kalat’s Johan Narmuk area, the Pakistan Army dragged two individuals from their home and executed them. The victims, identified as brothers Ismail and Abbas, were reportedly taken from their residence in the Narmuk Drang area by soldiers late last night.

The Army arrested the two brothers, who were engaged in farming and one of whom suffered from epilepsy, from their father Abdul Nabi Lahri’s home. The soldiers then transported them a short distance before opening fire, killing them on the spot.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has claimed that the two men were killed during an exchange of fire. This is a blatant lie as one of the victims had mobility issues due to his condition. The Army’s claim of a confrontation is made-up and that the brothers were executed after being forcibly removed from their home.

The arbitrary violence and disregard for due process are emblematic of the broader pattern of repression faced by the Baloch community under military rule.

Pak Army shuts down 542 more schools in Pak-occupied Balochistan

In a stark reflection of the ongoing crisis in Pak-occupied-Balochistan, the Department of Education has reported the closure of an additional 542 schools under the current administration, with more closures expected. This troubling development highlights the severe impact of the Pak Army’s exploitation and brutal repression on the region’s education system.

According to the latest report from the Balochistan Department of Education, the number of closed schools has surged to 3,694 across 35 districts as of September 2, up from 3,152 in May.

The Department of Education’s report reveals that reopening the closed schools would require the hiring of 16,000 teachers. The situation is dire, with schools in Pishin being the hardest hit, accounting for 254 of the closures, while Dera Bugti has the fewest, with 13 non-functional schools.

The lack of schools and teachers has led to a staggering number of children being out of school, with over 1.2 million children estimated to be out of education by 2021—more than 70% of the school-age population.

Not a week ago, the Baloch Doctors’ Forum raised concerns about the neglect of the health sector, citing months-long salary delays and vacant teaching positions in medical colleges. This reflects the systematic repression of the Baloch community. The Paki establishment is marginalizing the community and causing suffering due to a lack of basic necessities. Education and health are fundamental human rights, but they are being stripped away, leaving the community to live without basic decency.

Pak Army raids Balochistan National Party leader Mohammad Qasim’s home in Bela

Pak forces raided the home of Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader and Senator Mohammad Qasim Ranjho in Bela. The raid occurred shortly after Senator Ranjho made notable remarks about Pak-occupied-Balochistan’s issues during a Senate session.

Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal, the BNP’s chief, reported via social media that police and other security forces conducted the raid on Ranjho’s ancestral residence, known as White House, without any legal authorization. Mengal condemned the raid as a direct attack on the BNP and its leadership.

Following the raid, BNP leaders and activists began assembling at Ranjho’s home in protest. Sardar Mengal emphasized that Senator Ranjho had previously addressed POB’s grievances in a measured manner during the Senate session, expressing concern about the growing hostility towards the region. Ranjho had highlighted that the deep-seated animosity against POB has reached a point where Baloch people are regarded as infidels in Punjab.

In his remarks, Senator Ranjho criticized the occupied-Punjabi govt for treating POB as a colonial territory, and causing systemic neglect and exploitation.

As of now, authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the raid on Senator Ranjho’s home. This incident follows Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s recent resignation from the National Assembly of Pakistan, a move he made in protest against the parliamentary system’s failure to address POB’s issues.