SECURITY
Four Civilians Injured in Cross Border Fire across LoC
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: Two teenage girls and as many men were wounded in Azad Jammu and Kashmir when Indian troops resorted to firing from across the heavily militarized Line of Control (LoC). Poonch Deputy Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz told Dawn that shelling in Chirikot, Nakar Kot, Kakota and Dhiroti Polas villages of Abbaspur sector started at 9am and continued for some time intermittently. Dawn
Search Operation in North Waziristan Agency
North Waziristan Agency: The security forces recovered weapons from a house in Dattakhel tehsil of North Waziristan during search operation. The sources said that the security forces launched search operation in Masdak area in Dattakhel along the Afghan border. The News
Three Suspects Held during Search Operation in Rural Areas of Islamabad
Islamabad: In the wake of growing terror threats in the federal capital, Rangers, police and other law enforcement agencies conducted a search operation in the rural areas surrounding the capital and arrested three suspects. The News
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
Waziristan IDPs to be counted with FDMA help
FATA: The population and housing census will be conducted as per normal in Fata, except for North and South Waziristan, which are still recovering from the aftermath of military operations. Following the completion of the enumeration exercise in `Block 1` of 63 districts, Chief Census Commissioner Asif Bajwa told reporters that the government had decided to manually count all those who had returned to their homes in `cleared areas` of North and South Waziristan. Dawn
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Pakistan to Work Closely with Afghanistan: Bajwa
London: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that peace in Afghanistan is a shared interest and Pakistan is ready to work closely with Afghanistan. This he said during his meetings with senior British and US political and military officials in London. Dawn
UN Probes into Ceasefire Violation across LoC
United Nations: Underscoring that the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) area being investigated, a spokesman for the United Nations has called on Pakistan and India to `find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue`. Stephane Djuarric, the spokesman for the UN secretary general, made the statement in reply to a question about deteriorating human rights situation in India-held Kashmir and continued hostilities by New Delhi. Dawn
Repatriation of Afghan Refugees Resumes amid Cash Grant Cut
Mass repatriation of Afghan refugees resumed on Monday despite the United Nations` decision to cut cash grant for the refugees who opted for voluntary repatriation, and past criticism of the agency`s programme.
The operation, which saw 380,000 registered refugees sent back from Pakistan in 2016, was halte din December for a routine winter break.
