Ariana: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that under Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, the government could target Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts across the border in Afghanistan. “If the need arises, there is nothing more important than Pakistan’s sovereignty,” Asif told VOA when asked whether Pakistan would consider cross-border attacks to control perpetrators. Addressing the legality
Sarah Zaman VOA News June 23, 2024 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership has decided to launch a new multi-faceted nationwide counterterrorism campaign amid the country’s deteriorating security situation. A high-powered meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave the go ahead for operation “Azm-e-Istehkam,” or Resolve for Stability, to “combat the menaces of
Afghanistan International: Security and diplomatic sources have informed Afghanistan International that the Taliban are planning to relocate members of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from border areas to other provinces in Afghanistan. This decision comes after months of negotiations between the Taliban, Pakistan, and China. Click here to read more (external link).
WION: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Abdul Manan, also known as Hakimullah, was killed on Sunday (Jun 16) in Afghanistan’s Kunar province by unknown men. He was associated with the Malakand chapter of TTP. His killing is considered a big setback to the TTP and a major achievement for Islamabad. Manan was accused of carrying out
By Sarah Zaman VOA News June 14, 2024 ISLAMABAD — “We don’t need development. … We want to live in peace,” a frustrated Abdul Khaliq told VOA over the phone. Khaliq is a resident of Pakistan’s tribal district Kurram, where locals held a consultative gathering, or jirga, earlier this month to discuss rising insecurity. The gathering was
Ariana: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to hand over leaders of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other members of the group. At a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said the attack, in which five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed, was planned in Afghanistan
Ayaz Gul VOA News May 22, 2024 ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s military said Wednesday that its operations against a recent surge in terrorist attacks from Afghanistan, and cross-border militant infiltration attempts, have resulted in the killings of nearly 30 “terrorists” in the last month. The announcement came a day after a U.S. research group said in a
Michael Hughes: A U.S. congressionally-funded think tank, insidiously named the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), has called on Washington to boost counterterrorism operations, enhance ties with Pakistan, and conduct more lethal strikes inside Afghan territory. Although more likely to come from a national security research outfit, the USIP recommendations are not so unreasonable. But it
Ayaz Gul VOA News May 13, 2024 ISLAMABAD — The United States and Pakistan have concluded their latest round of counterterrorism talks, agreeing to intensify their collaboration in the fight against terrorist organizations like the Pakistani Taliban and a regional Islamic State affiliate. Washington and Islamabad issued a joint statement simultaneously on Monday, saying the May
Afghanistan International: Information obtained by Afghanistan International reveals that the Taliban has cancelled a scheduled trip of a Pakistani army delegation to Kandahar, in response to recent air and missile strikes by Pakistan in Paktika province. Originally, the delegation was to travel from Rawalpindi to Kandahar on Sunday. Security sources from Pakistan, confirming to Afghanistan