Story Highlights
War Against Terrorism
Killing of leader of banned outfit, Lashkar-e- Jhangvi in a police encounter this week is considered a significant development in the ongoing war against terrorists. Malik Ishaq, leader of the sectarian militant group, his two sons and 11 others were killed in a shootout after gunmen attacked a police convoy carrying the terrorists in Muzaffargarh. LeJ the extremist group founded by Ishaq, took responsibility for some of the bloodiest attacks on Shiites in Pakistan’s recent history, including two suicide bombings in Quetta in early 2013 that killed more than 180 people. Meanwhile violence broke out in Rahimyar Khan, hometown of Malik Ishaq, when the bodies arrived for burial. At least two people were killed in retaliation when protesters attacked on a police checkpost.
Right after the death of Malik Ishaq, news of killing of Taliban leader Mullah Omar also surfaced on media that was later confirmed by Afghan government and Afghan Taliban. According to the statement released by Afghan Taliban, Mullah Omar died owing to an illness some time ago and he died within two weeks of contracting the disease. Earlier, Afghan intelligence had said the Afghan supremo had died in a hospital in Karachi. The Taliban remained tight-lipped regarding news of his death; however, the announcement comes after senior Taliban leaders arrived in Islamabad for second round of Pakistan-brokered peace talks between the group and Afghan government.
Rains And Floods
Destruction and damage continues as monsoon rain in Pakistan triggers flash floods resulting in loss of human lives and damage to infrastructure including bridges, roads and highways across the country. Hundreds of houses have been inundated or washed away while standing crops in several areas were destroyed across KPK. The death toll from rains now stands at 50. Disaster management authorities and government machinery may need to speed up not only rescue work but also take preventive measures as Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rains in vulnerable areas in coming week, which may generate flash flooding.
Azad jammu Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkwa are heavily affected by recent rains. Met office also forecast heavy but scattered rains across Punjab and Kashmir for hours with interval. Meanwhile rescue operations are underway in flood- hit areas as thousands of affectees have been rescued by aid workers and Pakistan army through helicopters and boats. According to ISPR damaged roads that disconnected many villages from the highway have been restored. Relief operations are also underway in Sindh and Punjab areas that are badly affected by rains and floods.
Pak-India Relations
In a latest development 10 people have been killed in Indian Punjab police station attack by a group of heavily armed men dressed in military fatigues. Indian police overcame the attackers after 12 hour gun battle that ended in small town police station near the border with Pakistan. Three attackers were killed in the operation conducted by Indian police. Right after the attack Indian media and politicians started pointing their fingers at Pakistan, accusing that attackers crossed the border from Pakistan.
India’s Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the Indian parliament on Gurdaspur attack, also blamed Pakistan for involvement in attack. Pakistan in response rejected all allegations and condemned the attack. In a briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi M Khalilullah condemned the attack and regretted that the Indian media started blaming Pakistan while the operation against attackers was still going on. Foreign office spokesman also said that terrorism was a common enemy and required a cooperative approach rather than a blame game.
Meanwhile Pakistan army has released pictures and videos-clips retrieved from the spy drone it downed earlier this month near the line of Control to back up its claim that the drone was used by India for spying in areas on Pakistan side of Line of Control.
Other News
All other news are considered under this category.
