SECURITY
26 Die as Senate Deputy Chairman Survives Bomb Attack in Mastung
Quetta: At least 26 people were killed and 40 others, including Senate Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, suffered injuries in a suicide attack on his convoy in the Mastung area. The convoy was targeted on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway after Friday prayers. The militant group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement posted on the website of its propaganda agency Amaq. Dawn, The Express Tribune, The News
Five ‘Baloch Liberation Group’ Associates Held
Karachi: The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, claimed to have apprehended five suspected gangsters allegedly linked with the Baloch Liberation Group. According to the spokesperson for the paramilitary force, the Rangers carried out an action in Lyari’s Baghdadi area and arrested five suspects, namely Waleed, M. Hanif alias Annu, Shahzad, M. Zubair and Yusuf. The held suspects belonged to Lyari gang-war Baloch Liberation Group. They were involved in targeted killings, extortion, robberies, drugs and street crimes. Dawn
Two FC Men Injured in Afghan Forces Firing in Lower Kurram
Kurram Agency: Afghan forces opened unprovoked firing on Pakistani security forces in Lower Kurram Agency which left two security personnel injured. FC personnel posted on Gwanda check post were busy in constructing a wall near the Pak-Afghan border when they came under fire by the Afghan forces stationed in Khost province of Afghanistan. Radio TNN
Terror Bid Foiled near Pak-Afghan Border in Kurram Agency
Kurram Agency: Security forces foiled a massive terror bid by detonating an explosive laden vehicle near the Pak-Afghan border in Kurram Agency in which two terrorists were also killed. Shahid Ali Khan, Assistant Political Agent, said that an explosive-laden vehicle was trying to enter Pakistan from the Paktia province of Afghanistan near Borki border. Levies and FC personnel suspected it as a potential threat and opened fire on the vehicle and the explosives detonated. Radio TNN
POLITICAL
Peace Established at Bara at Cost of Sacrifices of Security Forces and Common People
Commandant Mahsud Scouts, Col. Hamid Saeed said that peace and stability in Bara had been established due to the sacrifices of security forces and common people. He further said that security forces would try their best to eliminate the networks of various militants and terrorists active in the region. This will happen with the cooperation of the common people as well. Akhbar-e-khyber
Peace Walk at Parachinar
A Peace walk with the aim of building peace in the region was held at Parachinar. The participants said that it was in the interests of all Tribal people to establish peace and stability in the region particularly in the post-conflict period. Officials from the Pak army also participated in the walk. Akhbar-e-Khyber
SOCIO-ECONOMIC
Janikhel Tribe is not Ready to Make any Compromise on their Land
JaniKhel, Wazir Tribes, declared that it would be unacceptable to them if their lands in Shawal, North Waziristan Agency, were given to Mahsud tribes. This declaration was made at a Jirga which was presided over by former MP, Adnan Khan Wazir. They further said that this issue should be solved in the best interests of the people because various intra-tribal conflicts have been fought over the issue of land in the past. Akhbar-e-Khyber
Convention will be held to hear the Problems of Orakzai Agency
Political administration along with Pak army will hold a convention in order to find out the basic problems of the people belonging to Orakzai Agency. Proper strategies will be initiated which will help to provide them jobs and to solve their problems in the post-conflict period. Akhbar-e-Khyber
Arrangements for Polio Campaign Completed
All types of arrangements have been completed for the movement of polio to kick off in Orakzai Agency which will begin on May 15. About 191 teams have been selected to participate in administering polio vaccine to every child in the agency. Akhbar-e-Khyber
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Pakistan, Iran Officials Agree on anti-terror Cooperation
Pakistani and Iranian officials met in the border town of Taftan to step up cooperation between the two countries against the threat of terrorist attacks and ensure legal movement of people along their shared 900 km long border. The officials resolved to carry out an inspection of the site where an attack by militants on April 26 had left ten Iranian soldiers dead. Chaghi Deputy Commissioner Shahak Baloch led the Pakistani delegation, while the Iranian side was led by Colonel Najaf Safri. Dawn, Khyber News
Pakistan Struggling with Terrorism Threat, Claim US Secret Agencies
Washington: The US intelligence officials informed Congress that Pakistan based terrorist groups would remain a sustained threat to US interests in South Asia in 2017 and would continue to plan and conduct attacks inside India and Afghanistan. In a joint report to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, US spy agencies also warned that ‘the emerging China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would probably offer militants and terrorists additional targets’. Dawn
Pakistan, Afghanistan, US Discuss Prevention Steps
Senior military officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States held talks in Rawalpindi to discuss steps to prevent cross border fire violations. The meeting held at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi in the backdrop of recent border clashes near Chaman suggested that both neighbors were willing to sort out differences through talks. The Express Tribune, Khyber News
CHINA-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR
China to Pour 50 billion into Indus River Cascade
In a major development that may attract Chinese investment worth 50 billion dollars to Pakistan, Islamabad is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with Beijing for financing and developing the North Indus River which has the potential to generate 40,000 MW of hydroelectricity. The Express Tribune, Dawn, Khyber News
