Month: December 2023

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir Thursday maintained that illegal foreigners were “seriously affecting” Pakistan’s security and economy, stressing the decision to send them to their home country was taken in the country’s interest.

The army chief’s remark, according to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), came during his visit to Peshawar where he was briefed in detail about the overall security situation, ongoing counter-terrorism operations, repatriation of Illegal foreigners and socio-economic developments in the newly merged districts.

“Decision to repatriate them has been taken by the government in the interest of Pakistan,” General Asim said, as quoted by the military’s media wing.

The army chief emphasised that the Illegal foreigners are being repatriated to their countries in a “humane and dignified manner” as per the established norms.

Meanwhile, the process of illegal foreigners’ repatriation, largely comprised of undocumented Afghan migrants, is underway. So far, at least 2,55,029 illegal residents have returned to Afghanistan from KP, alone.

According to the Interior Ministry, 2,50,814 people have left via the Torkham border, while 3,516 and 698 left through the Angor Ada and Kharlachi border crossing.​

Pakistan’s decision to repatriate illegal foreigners was closely linked with the increasing terror attacks in the country, especially in KP and Balochistan provinces, as well as the escalating tension between Islamabad and the Taliban’s administration in Kabul.

The ISPR added that during his visit the COAS, who was received in the city by Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Sardar Hassan Azhar Hayat, also highlighted the importance of economic growth and development in the newly merged districts.

The army chief also lauded the support of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) towards security forces for ensuring stability in the province and developmental progress.

“The resolute support of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Security Forces has resulted in stability in the province and materialisation of progress on projects of socio-economic development,” he remarked.

The ISPR added that the COAS, while linking the country’s prosperity with KP, emphasised that nefarious designs of the forces inimical to the peace and stability of Pakistan are being foiled through a synergetic and comprehensive strategy.

During his visit, General Asim also interacted with the officers and soldiers who have displayed gallantry actions during different counter-terrorism operations, the statement read.

He lauded their heroic and exemplary feats.

“Nation takes pride and acknowledges the accomplishments of its Armed Forces. Pakistan is destined to succeed and the Pakistan Army will continue to undertake its selfless and sacred duty of safeguarding every inch of the motherland till the last drop of blood, InshaAllah.”

The army chief also had an interactive session with the participants of the First National Workshop Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (NWKP-1).

The shooting spree occurred over the span of several hours on Tuesday in Austin, where four victims were shot dead and the suspect engaged in a shootout with police, and in the San Antonio area where a man and a woman were found dead in a home.

“We strongly believe one suspect is responsible for all of the incidents,” Robin Henderson, interim chief for the Austin Police Department, said of the Austin killings.

The suspect, who was not identified, “is in custody and no longer poses a threat to our Austin community”. At least four incidents were tied to the suspect across the Texas capital, including two double homicides, the wounding of a police officer near a school, and the non-fatal shooting of a cyclist.

Police exchanged gunfire with the suspect at the site of a burglary where two victims were found dead. One officer there was injured. The gunman fled in a vehicle and crashed after a car chase with police.

The man was arrested in possession of a firearm and charged with capital murder, Henderson said, describing the incidents as a series of “tragic events and horrific criminal acts”. Authorities connected the suspect to a residence some 70 miles to the south, in Bexar county, home to San Antonio. When police investigated that home they discovered the bodies of a man and a woman, believed to be in their 50s, wedged against the door of a small room.

“Certainly it’s a pretty grisly crime scene,” Bexar county sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken “reiterated the imperative of all parties working to prevent” the unrest from spreading, according to the US State Department.

Beijing said Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed in turn that, regarding the ongoing crisis, “the top priority is to cease fire and end the war [on Gaza] as soon as possible”.

“Major countries must adhere to fairness and justice, uphold objectivity and impartiality, demonstrate calm and rationality, and make every effort to cool down the situation and prevent larger-scale humanitarian disasters,” Wang said, according to the foreign ministry.

• Erdogan rejects ‘buffer zone’ plan for enclave • Kishida tells Netanyahu civilian casualties should be minimised

He reiterated Beijing’s calls for a two-state solution to the crisis, stressing that “any arrangement involving the future of Palestine must reflect the will of the Palestinian people”.

“China is willing to work with all parties to make efforts to this end,” he said. Washington has been pressing Beijing to use its influence to push for calm in the region.

‘Buffer zone’

Turkiye rejects plans to establish a buffer zone after the end of hostility in Gaza because it would be disrespectful to Palestinians, President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters on a flight from Doha, Erdogan said Gaza’s governance and future after the end of hostility would be decided by Pales­tinians alone.

“I consider even the debating of this (buffer-zone) plan as disrespectful to my Palestinian siblings. For us, this is not a plan that can be debated, considered, or discussed,” Erdogan’s office quoted him as saying.

Calling for Israel to hand back territories it occupies and end settlements in those territories, he said: “Israel must remove the terrorists — which it markets to the world as settlers — from those houses and those lands, and think about how it can build a peaceful future with Pales­tinians.”

Erdogan said Israel had become “the West’s spoiled child”, and blamed Western support for Israel for the situation in the region.

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmad Bugti said Tuesday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would have “full security” for holding the general elections in a peaceful environment.

In conversation with a private television channel, the interim minister said the caretaker government would take necessary measures to provide all required facilities to ECP for conducting general elections in a transparent manner.

The minister’s comments came after the commission sought the Pakistan Army’s help in ensuring the law and order situation for the polls — slated to take place on February 8, 2024.

During the elections, the security situation is a grave concern for the authorities concerned and to ensure that nothing goes south, law enforcers are deployed at polling stations and they are also on patrol.

The ECP has informed the interior ministry that it faces a total shortfall of more than 270,000 police personnel, prompting it to request for the army’s assistance “in static mode”.

Some political parties have also raised concerns over the security situation, wondering whether it was feasible to hold the elections or not, but the ECP has clarified that intends to stage the polls on February 8 next year.

In the conversation, the minister also told political parties to cooperate with law enforcement agencies (LEAs) before arranging any public or corner meeting for their election campaign.

“Timely information about public gatherings or meetings would help security institutions make better arrangements for them,” the caretaker interior minister added.

Commenting on rising terrorism incidents in different parts of the country, he said that the LEAs were “fully alert to control the menace of terrorism”.

He said enemies are trying to sabotage the peaceful environment of Pakistan. Bugti added that the security institutions are taking all possible steps to defeat terrorism in a befitting manner.

Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) data showed that the country saw a notable surge in militant activities in November as the attacks rose by 34% following a two-month decline.

A total of 63 attacks took place which resulted in 83 fatalities, including 37 security forces personnel and 33 civilians.

Calling the incident “disturbing”, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday ordered an investigation after the army acknowledged one of its drones mistakenly struck the village of Tudun Biri on Sunday as residents celebrated a festival.

The army did not give any casualty figures, but emergency officials and residents had said 85 people, many of them women and children, were killed.

“The Northwest Zonal Office has received details from the local authorities that 85 dead bodies have so far been buried while the search is still ongoing,” National Emergency Management Agency said in a statement. Another 66 people were being treated at hospital. Many of the victims were women, children and elderly.

“It is shameful for the international community to allow this heinous crime to continue for nearly two months, during which the systematic and deliberate killing of innocent civilians continues, including women and children,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said.

 

Qatar was a key mediator in negotiations that resulted in a seven-day truce, which saw scores of Israeli prisoners exchanged for Palestinians prisoners and humanitarian aid, until it ended on Friday.

Its foreign ministry said that GCC summit was aimed at forming a united approach to end the aggression in Gaza.

GCC expresses ‘deep concern’ over blatant Israeli aggression

“Now the ceiling should be raised to talk about a sustainable truce” that could lead to ending this unrest, Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, told Al Jazeera.

Qatar’s ruler said his country was “constantly working to renew” the truce, but added this was “not an alternative to a permanent ceasefire”.

He called for “an international investigation into the massacres committed by Israel” and for the Security Council “to assume its legal responsibility and act to end this barbaric war [on Gaza], and compel Israel to return to credible negotiations to achieve a just solution to the Palestinian issue”.

‘Blatant aggression’

Some members of the GCC have moved towards closer ties with Israel in recent years.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalised ties with Israel in 2020, and Saudi Arabia was seen as close to following suit.

But the unrest has put a halt to these diplomatic efforts.

In a joint statement, the GCC expressed “deep concern” with what it called “blatant Israeli aggression” in Gaza.

 

The council praised the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States in negotiating the humanitarian pause, urging a fresh truce “immediately” to “achieve a complete and sustainable ceasefire”.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the session and accused Israel of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity in Gaza”, which he said “should not be left unanswered”.

Both Turkiye and Qatar have been vocal supporters of the Palestinian cause and have opened channels of communication with Hamas.