The Taliban armed with suicide vests, guns and rockets stormed a heavily fortified airfield in Afghanistan where Prince Harry is deployed, killing two US marines and attacking aircraft in a major security breach. In another incident 11 women and children from two families were killed when their vehicle hit explosive device in Helmand province. An Afghan policeman killed two NATO soldiers in the country’s south on Saturday. The militia said it carried out the assault on Prince Harry’s base to avenge a US-made film deemed insulting to Islam that has sparked deadly riots across the Middle East and North Africa. The attack on Camp Bastion started at 10:15 pm on Friday and the base was cleared on Saturday morning, said US Army Major Adam Wojack. Prince Harry was never in danger, officials confirmed. The News, Daily Times, The Frontier Post, Dawn.
The US Special Envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan Mark Grossman Grossman called on President Asif Ali Zardari here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday. Ambassador Grossman was accompanied by Acting US Ambassador Richard Hoagland, Lt. Gen, Douglas E. Lute, Dr. Peter Lavoy and other US officials. Defense Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Sheikh, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Secretary General M. Salman Faruqui, Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Syeda Sughra Imam, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and other officials were present in the meeting from Pakistan’s side. Senator Farhat ullah Babar, briefing newsmen about the meeting, said that Pak-US bilateral situation, fight against militancy, regional situation, drug trafficking and drone attacks were discussed during the meeting. The President reiterated his call for an end to the drone attacks, terming them counterproductive in the fight against militancy and in the battle of winning hearts. We need to discuss alternatives on the question of drone attacks, he added. The President also expressed grave concern and condemned the anti-Islam film produced in the US that has sparked protest demonstrations in a number of countries. He said that rationality and tolerance was fast eroding and stressed the need for collective action to stop inflaming religious sentiments of any community or people of any faith. The Frontier Post, Dawn, Business Recorder.
A conductor of a Nato container was injured when militants opened firing on his vehicle in Jamrud tehsil in Khyber Agency on Saturday. Officials said that a container, supplying goods to Nato forces in Afghanistan, was attacked by militants in Ghareeza area on Peshawar-Torkham Road. Haleem Khan, the conductor of the vehicle, was injured in the attack. He was shifted to a local hospital for treatment. The vehicle was allowed to travel to Afghanistan after the incident. Meanwhile, Khasadar Force seized drugs and ammunition from a car and arrested two persons in Jamrud. Officials said that khasadars intercepted a car coming from Shahkas area at Takhta Beg checkpost. They recovered 20 kilograms of hashish, six kilograms of opium and three hundred rounds of Kalashnikov from the hidden cavities of the car. The driver identified as Tahir and his friend Mehraban Shah were also taken into custody. Dawn.
Badabhair police foiled arms smuggling bid from tribal area to Punjab and arrested alleged smuggler on Saturday. Station House Officer Nasim Hayat said that CCPO Imtiaz Altaf received information that huge quantity of arms was being smuggled from tribal area to Punjab. On receiving of this information CCPO ordered authorities to beef up the checking. SHO tighten security on various check post and stopped Nissan motor car at Zanagli check post. During the search of the vehicle, police recovered nine Kalashnikovs, four guns and 520 bullets. The driver of the vehicle was also arrested. The arrested smuggler was identified as Sahfi Ullah son of Afzal resident of Dara Adam Khel. Meanwhile, Badhbair police arrested five proclaimed offenders and recovered one vehicle and arms from their possession.SHO said that arrested proclaimed offenders were involved in murder, attempted to murder and other serious cases. The Frontier Post.
Unidentified gunmen shot dead three bee-keepers, including two Afghan nationals, in Gaidu area of upper Kurram Agency on Saturday, sources said. The sources said that two brothers Hazrat Ali, Sardar Ali and Muhammad Rehman had recently shifted to Gaidu from Spina Shaga. They said unidentified armed men came to their tent at 4 a.m. and opened fire on them, killing them on the spot. Hazrat Ali and Sardar Ali belonged to Paktiya province of Afghanistan while Rehman is stated to be a resident of Sapina Shaga. The News.
The security forces have wrested control of Salarzai tehsil in Bajaur Agency by flushing out the militants after a pitched battle, an official said on Saturday. Assistant Political Agent Jehangir Azam Wazir told reporters in Batwar village that Salarzai had been cleared of the militants and the writ of the state has been restored. He said the locals in Salarzai had cooperated with the security forces in purging the area of the militants. Sources in the security forces claimed that more than 100 militants were killed and dozens of others injured in the clashes during the recent military operation in Salarzai. A group of journalists was also taken to Batwar where the local people garlanded the soldiers and showered rose petals on them. The security forces have established checkpoints in the border areas to prevent the militants from staging attacks. The News.
A would-be suicide bomber was killed in an explosion in Dhoda area in the limits of Bilitang Police Station on Saturday, police sources said. The sources said that 18-year-old Taj Muhammad had been sent to the area apparently to carry out suicide bombing. “He was staying in an abandoned room in the hilly area and the blast occurred when his vest exploded accidentally,” an official said. Following the incident, the police reached the scene and seized a hand-grenade and explosives. Locals said that Taj Muhammad had come to the village on Friday and they had provided him meal on his request. The News, Daily Times, Dawn.
The traders who suffered heavy financial losses in the car bombing at the Turi Market here in upper Kurram Agency last Monday have asked the government to compensate them forthwith. Addressing a press conference on Saturday at the blast site where the traders had set up a protest camp, Kamal Hussain, Syed Ijaz Hussain, Nisar Ali, Mehboob Ali Paracha and others said the traders suffered heavy financial loss due to the explosion as most of the shops were destroyed. They said the government must compensate the affected shopkeepers and traders to enable them restart business activities in Parachinar. The News.
The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Saturday denouncing the anti-Islam film “Innocence of Muslims” that sparked deadly violence across the Muslim World, asked the youth of Muslim Ummah, especially youth of Pakistan to stand up in defense of their religion and its sanctity. “Martyrdom seekers of the TTP will never forgive the ‘Sons of Swines’ whom dare to abuse their Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAAW),” the TTP spokesman Eshanullah Eshan said in an email message. Urging the Muslim media, Ehsanullah Eshan asked the Muslim controlled media to report the sacrilegious incident as this is their duty to inform the Muslim Ummah against the evil intentions of the infidels. The Frontier Post.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman, who concluded his two-day visit on Saturday, has requested Pakistan to release Dr Shakil Afridi, imprisoned for spying for CIA, helping it track al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. Ambassador Grossman spent a busy Saturday in Islamabad, holding meetings with Pakistan’s top civilian leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Sheikh and Interior Minister Rehman Malik. On the first day of his visit on Friday, Grossman had held intensive talks separately with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, stressing the need for work together to identify shared interests and act jointly for the benefit of both nations as well as the region. Business Recorder.
FATA has been sandwiched between militants and military. Life, liberty and freedom of individuals are at stake and they are frequently losing their basic rights. While on the other hand, the hovering of predator drones over the heads of people is adding miseries in their lives. Individual freedom like freedom of gathering or assembly, freedom of expression, etc. has been restricted by the element of fear. The fears of arrest, detention, killing and dishonoring have deprived the people from their rights. The extension of Political Parties Act 2002 to FATA and limiting fear of arrest under Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) by amending the British imposed law is one of the major contributions of the present democratic government. But the amended FCR law has not been put into practice yet. The long standing demand of the people to extend Political Parties Act to FATA has been fulfilled but the political mobilization and establishing of political parties’ offices in this bordering region have not taken place. Political participation is very low because of absence of political activities of political parties. Functional political parties are indispensable for political socialization and mobilization but still political parties are reluctant to be the voice of the people of FATA. Healthy public opinion is critical for well aware democratic trends. The Frontier Post.
The Torkham border crossing was closed by Pakistani security forces on Saturday due to security concerns. Official sources confirmed that the border was sealed owing to various reasons including strong resentment among the people over anti Islam film by a US Jew and in the back drop of several attacks by militants from Afghan side of the border. The Frontier Post.
A man and women were shot dead over honour killing in Shalozan Colony, Badhbair on Saturday.Waris Khan, father of deceased man Muhammad Nawaz lodged report against Sher Zaman and Habib ur Rehamn sons of Shazim. The complainant said last night the alleged murderers knock at his door and took his 22-year old son Muhammad Nawaz with them. The next day (Saturday) his father was informed that Sher Zaman and his brother Habib ur Rehman killed their sister Nahida and complainant’s son Muhammad Nawaz.Meanwhile, city police recovered five-year old abducted child and arrested the alleged kidnapers in Yakatoot. The Frontier Post.
An Al-Qaeda Network weapons expert was killed following a joint military operation by Afghan and coalition security forces in eastern Paktika province of Afghanistan. Afghan and coalition forces confirmed the death of an al-Qaida weapons expert during a security operation in Mata Khan district, Paktika province. NATO-led International Security Assistance Force following a statement announced, “During the operation the security force positively identified Taqwa – also known as Eissa Khan – transporting weapons toward a populated area. The Frontier Post.
According to local authorities in eastern Laghman province of Afghanistan, a senior Taliban commander was killed following a NATO airstrike in this province. Provincial governor spokesman Sarhadi Zwak confirming the report said a senior Taliban commander recognized as Zahir was killed following a NATO aristrike early Friday morning. Mr. Zwak further added the airstrike was carried out in Alingar district killing the Taliban commander along with three other Taliban. Laghman province located in eastern Afghanistan border eastern Nangarhar, Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan where Taliban are operating in a number of its districts. The Frontier Post.
NAWAF KHAN, SHARAFAT ALI CHAUDHRY
