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India-Pakistan
All 11 Senate candidates from Balochistan elected unopposed
2024-03-29
Just like blue cities.
[GEO.TV] There will be no polling for the 11 Senate seats from Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
as all the candidates — seven on general seats and two each on seats reserved for women and technocrats — have been elected unopposed ahead of the election slated for April 2.

Nine senators were declared winners a day earlier while the result was awaited on the two remaining technocrat seats.

According to a Geo News report, Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...the political wing of the Pak Taliban...
Fazl's (JUI-F) Maulana Abdul Wasey and Pakistain Peoples Party’s (PPP) Bilal Khan Mandokhail have been elected on the reserved seats.

Moreover, the other nine candidates elected unopposed to the Senate from Balochistan include former caretaker prime minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar who has returned to the upper house as an independent candidate on a general seat.

Similarly, Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Syed Nasir and Agha Shahzeb Durrani, PPP’s Sardar Umar Gorgej, National Party’s John Buledi, Awami National Party
founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism....
's Aimal Wali and JUI-F’s Ahmed Khan have also been elected on general seats.

Additionally, PML-N and PPP have secured the two women's seats that were up for grabs in the province. The candidates that have been elected are PML-N’s Rahat Jamali and PPP’s Hasna Bibi.

In total, PML-N and PPP managed to get 3 seats each while JUI-F got two and ANP and National Party bagged one seat each.

Link


India-Pakistan
KP Assembly members take oath in ruckus-hit maiden session
2024-02-29
[GEO.TV] Newly-elected members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly were sworn in on Wednesday in the maiden session that began after a delay of over an hour, due to a ruckus caused by Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) workers in the legislature, reported Geo News on Wednesday.

The session had to begin at 11am but was delayed as the elected politicians were facing difficulty in entering the assembly hall as multiple PTI workers tried entering the floor and even threw a "lota" and a shoe at Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz's (PML-N) Sobia Shahid.
A "lota" is a "portable bidet," a jug that can be used for butt scrubbies.
Later, outgoing Speaker Mushtaq Ghani administered oath to 116 newly elected politicians, which included 111 members who won the general seats, and five reserved seats members, in presence of heavy police party outside the assembly in the light of Awami National Party
founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism....
's (ANP) call of protest.

It may be noted that the KP Assembly consists of 145 members, 115 general seats and 30 reserved seats — 26 for women and four for minorities. However,
if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well...
25 of the reserved seats have not been notified yet as the matter is currently being heard by the Election Commission of Pakistain (ECP).

Meanwhile,
...back at the abandoned silver mine, the water was up to Jack's neck and still rising. And then he smelled the smoke...
two of the general seats remain vacant as elections on these two were deferred owing to the deaths of candidates in the respective constituencies.

Once the oath was administered, Speaker Ghani announced that the election for the new speaker and deputy speaker of the House would be held tomorrow (February 29).

The MPAs willing to contest for the coveted slot will have time till 5pm today to submit their nomination papers while those willing to withdraw from the polls can take back their papers by midnight, said the speaker.

"Polling for the speaker and deputy speaker election will be held tomorrow at 10am," announced Speaker Ghani.

PTI founder Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree...
had announced Aqibullah Khan as the candidate for the KP speaker. But it has emerged today that the PTI founder has reverted his decision to name Aqibullah Khan as the new speaker.

PTI Secretary Gneral Omar Ayub Khan announced today that PTI founder Imran Khan has now nominated Babar Salim Swati as the candidate for the KP Assembly speaker.

Related:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2024-02-18 Soldier martyred, 9 terrorists killed in two separate KP operations: ISPR
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2024-02-15 May 9 'narrative' buried if establishment deems Feb 8 election fair: JUI-F chief Fazl
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa: 2024-02-15 Sindh, Balochistan, KP witness protests against alleged polls rigging
Link


India-Pakistan
Security forces kill 12 more terrorists in Balochistan's Mach
2024-02-01
[GEO.TV] The security forces Wednesday killed of 12 more holy warriors in Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
’s Mach city, taking the corpse count of bully boyz to 22, as the country witnesses a rise in terrorism.

The sources said the operation that began on January 30 thwarted terrorists’ attacks, while a clearance operation was still underway in the restive province’s city.

The security forces had killed nine holy warriors on Jan 30 — including three jacket wallahs — and injured three in retaliatory actions following multiple terrorist attacks in Balochistan’s Mach and Kolpur towns.

The incidents come just days before the February 8 national elections, turning the situation volatile, as political actors and parties have also been targeted during electioneering.

As the forces clamp down on holy warriors in the province, four brave security personnel embraced martyrdom along with two innocent civilians on Jan 30.

Terrorists also attacked multiple areas in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), hampering electioneering ahead of the general polls.

Three separate hand grenade attacks were carried out against the Pakistain Peoples Party's (PPP) election offices in Quetta and Kalat's Mangochar — with the former incident wounding three people.

In a separate incident, the Awami National Party
founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism....
(ANP) also came under attack as assailants opened fire on the party workers in Chaman city resulting in the death of a worker identified as Zahoor Ahmed.

Link


India-Pakistan
Violence mars electioneering activities as multiple blasts target Balochistan
2024-02-01
[GEO.TV] With February 8 polls drawing near, Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
Wednesday was rocked by multiple terrorist attacks in various cities resulting in several injuries.

Three separate hand grenade attacks were carried out against the Pakistain Peoples Party's (PPP) election offices in Quetta and Kalat's Mangochar — with the former incident wounding three people.

The strikes were followed by another hand grenade attack on the PPP candidate Zahoor Buledi's house in Kech, confirmed Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hussain Jan.

Meanwhile,
...back at the Council of Boskone, Helmuth ordered the entire 614th quadrant searched. The Green Lensman must be found!...
in a separate incident, the Awami National Party
founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism....
(ANP) also came under attack as assailants opened fire on the party workers in Chaman city resulting in the death of a worker identified as Zahoor Ahmed.

The incident took place as ANP workers were busy in electioneering activities in the PB-50 constituency, confirmed party spokesperson Zamrak Achakzai.

Condemning the incidents, Balochistan's caretaker Home Minister Zubair Jamali said that such attacks would not deter the public's resolve against the menace of terrorism.

Furthermore, independent candidate Rehan Zeb Khan was rubbed out on Wednesday in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, police said.

The election hopeful was contesting elections from NA-8 and PK-22 seats and was present in Sadiqabad Phatak Bazar area of the tribal district in connection with the election campaign when person or persons unknown fired upon him, leaving him deader than Tut.

Link


India-Pakistan
Two 'suicide bombers' planning to target Fazlur Rehman, Aimal Wali arrested
2024-01-13
[GEO.TV] The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Friday foiled an attempt to sabotage the February 8 elections as it, in a successful operation, arrested two would-be jacket wallahs planning to target Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...the political wing of the Pak Taliban...
Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman
...Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty. Fazl seldom misses a meal and is now so large he has his own gravitational pull...
and Awami National Party
founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism....
’s (ANP) leader Aimal Wali Khan.

Addressing a presser, CTD Superintendent of Police (SP) Najam-ul-Hussain announced the arrest of two suspected suicide bombers affiliated with ISIS Khorasan from the Matni area.

He said that the apprehended forces of Evil were planning suicide kabooms targeting key political figures.

According to the SP, the arrested individuals were plotting a suicide attack on Fazl. Furthermore, it was disclosed that the forces of Evil had intentions to target the ANP leader through a suicide kaboom.

The arrested suspects had reportedly visited the JUI-F’s center and investigations revealed that they had undergone training in the Paktia region of Afghanistan.

During the security operation, authorities recovered suicide jackets, three hand grenades, and propaganda material associated with ISIS. The bomb disposal unit (BDU) has successfully neutralised the weapons and bombs.

The SP disclosed that the outlawed organization had previously been linked to assassinations of individuals representing various schools of thought in the region six months ago.

In a related development, authorities have made progress in identifying the individual responsible for planting a bomb on the Warsak Road. SP CTD said that the arrest of the terrorist involved in the Warsak Road kaboom was imminent.

Related:
Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam: 2024-01-03 JUI-F ready to work with PML-N for Pakistan's prosperity, says Fazl
Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam: 2024-01-02 Fazl doesn't see election happening on Feb 8 after DI Khan attack
Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam: 2023-11-28 Pakistan blames Afghan national for suicide bombing that killed two civilians
Related:
Fazlur Rehman: 2024-01-07 'TTP on agenda' as Fazl gears up for visit to Afghanistan
Fazlur Rehman: 2024-01-06 Sunni Ulema Council's Maulana Masoodur Rehman Usmani gunned down in Islamabad
Fazlur Rehman: 2024-01-03 JUI-F ready to work with PML-N for Pakistan's prosperity, says Fazl
Related:
ISIS: 2024-01-10 Good Morning
ISIS: 2024-01-10 Police foiled 30 Al-Shabaab terror attempts in 2023 — report
ISIS: 2024-01-10 Remains of 57 Yazidis killed by ISIS to be returned to Shingal
Related:
Matni: 2014-12-21 Seven Dead as Pakistan Hits Militant Hideouts
Matni: 2013-09-07 Firing leaves at least eight dead in Peshawar
Matni: 2013-07-28 7 terrorists killed in Hangu, Peshawar clashes
Link


Afghanistan
Shooting by Taliban Fighter Claims Lives of Family Members in Parwan; One Dead and Three Injured
2023-07-30


Local sources in Parwan report that a former Taliban
...Arabic for students...
intelligence officer named Tamim, known as "Bache Rahim," who once served as the intelligence director of the Taliban in Jabal Saraj district, fired shots at four members of a family in the province.

On Friday, July 28, in the village of Meyan-Gozar, Jabal Saraj district, Parwan province, Bache Rahim allegedly opened fire on members of a family, resulting in the death of one individual and injuries to three others.

According to the sources, the shooting led to the death of a young boy named Nooryalai, while three other boys from the same family were maimed and are currently receiving medical treatment.

The incident occurred after a verbal altercation between Bache Rahim and the family members, during which he resorted to gunfire.

It is worth noting that Bache Rahim has a history of violence in the region. On September 23, 2019, he was involved in the killing of his uncle’s wife and his four children using a hunting rifle in the village of Meyana-Guzar, Jabal Saraj district.

Following that incident, Bache Rahim expeditiously departed at a goodly pace and joined the ranks of the Taliban.

According to the claims made by the sources, one year after the mentioned event, Bache Rahim was involved in the killing of another uncle, Abdul Wali, known as "Sepahi."
Link


Afghanistan
Poppy Cultivation in South of Afghanistan Down by 80%: Report
2023-06-08
[ToloNews] Illicit drugs expert David Mansfield, in a report citing satellite imagery, said that poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has been reduced to levels not seen since 2001 with cultivation in the south of the country down by at least 80% compared with last year, when the Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
banned the growing of poppies for opium.

"In fact, high resolution imagery shows that in the province of Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
poppy cultivation has fallen from more than 120,000 hectares in 2022 to less than 1,000 hectares in 2023 — a reduction in this one province alone that surpasses any prior national poppy ban in Afghanistan," Mansfield wrote in the report posted online by Alcis, an organization that provides "geographic information services."

"This is good that there is a both efforts against (narcotics) and also a treatment program. But this is not enough, there should be international assistance in this regard," said Ajmal Zurmati, a political analyst.

"Last year, the cultivation of wheat increased by 10 to 40 percent compared to the previous years in the provinces," said Muzbahuddin Mustaeen, a front man for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

The Alcis report said that while denied the possibilities of growing poppy, many have turned almost entirely to wheat but will not have sufficient land to feed their families.

"Some will cultivate a portion of land with crops like onion, garlic, and tomato, but will not raise enough income to feed, cloth, and provide healthcare for a family of ten or more people," the report said.

"The government should help us regarding the cultivation of wheat. Provide us wheat seeds," said Farid Ahmad, a farmer in Kandahar.

"After the poppy cultivation was banned, the people could not earn their expenses. The people are so worried about the water—the water used to be found at the surface 10 meters deep but it cannot be reached now even 20 meters deep," said Abdul Wali, a farmer in Kandahar.

The Islamic Emirate’s deputy front man, Bilal Karimi, welcomed the findings of Alcis.

"It is good that we witness such acknowledgement from these organizations about the improvements made by the Islamic Emirate regarding narcotics across the country. According to the decree of the (leader), the cultivation and production of narcotics, its processing and its selling has been banned," he said.

The report said that the poppy cultivation was reduced by more than 99% in Helmand Province, which "previously produced more than 50% of the country’s opium."

According to official information, the Ministry of Interior has conducted more than 6,000 counter-narcotic operations.
Related:
Poppy cultivation: 2023-05-14 Four Farmers Killed Over Poppy Field Destruction In Afghanistan’s Badakhshan
Poppy cultivation: 2023-03-31 Campaign Begins to Destroy Poppy Fields in Herat
Poppy cultivation: 2023-02-05 Taliban ‘set price’ for opium in western province of Afghanistan
Link


India-Pakistan
Aimal Wali demands action against those who ‘resettled’ militants in Pakistan
2023-04-20
[Dawn] Awami National Party
founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism....
provincial president Aimal Wali Khan has demanded that those who took the decision of resettling bandidos gunnies in Pakistain should be taken to task.

"The security agencies have admitted bringing the bandidos gunnies back to Pakistain from Afghanistan during the rule of Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
government was a wrong decision, so those who took the decision should be punished," he demanded in a video message released from the Bacha Khan Markaz here on Wednesday.

"Resettlement of bandidos gunnies was and is a project of a few persons," he said and demanded: "Former army chief Gen retired Qamar Javed Bajwa and former Inter-Services Intelligence
...the Pak military intelligence agency that controls the military -- heads of ISI typically get promoted into the Chief of Army Staff position. It serves as a general command center for favored turban groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tries to influence the politix of neighboring countries, and carries out a (usually) low-level war against India in Kashmir...
chief Gen retired Faiz Hameed should be questioned as to why they committed such a heinous crime."

Aimal Wali claimed that 100 bandidos gunnies were freed during the PTI government and action should be taken against former prime minister Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
, President Arif Alvi and former adviser Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif.

He said ANP stood against all forms of militancy and would continue to resist the menace.

He also claimed he was facing threats to his life and told workers that if something bad happened to him, they should not lodge an FIR, and should instead take Dire Revenge from the perpetrators of terrorists.

"If something happens to me, the ANP workers should take revenage from Gen retired Qamar Bajwa, Let-Gen retired Faiz Hameed, President Arif Alvi, former prime minister Imran Khan, former KP chief minister Mahmood Khan and former adviser Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif," he said.

The ANP provincial president disclosed that security agencies had arrested a jacket wallah from Charsadda two weeks ago, who revealed during investigation that he belonged to the so-called Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems...
-Khurasan group and wanted to target him (Aimal). He also said another suicide bomber was arrested from a religious seminary in the historic provincial capital, who also wanted to target him.

"It looks like after the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
Pakistain, Tehrik-e-Taliban Afghanistan, we are now on the hit list of the so-called Islamic State," Aimal Wali said, adding: "This is what happens when you raise voice for Pakhtun’s rights."
Link


Afghanistan
Reconstruction of Kabul-Jalalabad Highway Completed: MoPW
2023-01-21
[ToloNews] The reconstruction of parts of Kabul-Jalalabad Highway that were damaged by floods in recent years has been completed, the Ministry of Public Work said on Friday.

According to the MoPW, the project cost 25 million Afs and was completed in over one and a half years.
It’ll be interesting to see how long until they have to redo the work.
"The road was reconstructed with good quality. It starts from the Butkhak Roundabout (in Kabul) and ends at Hisark district of Jalalabad. The highway was damaged by the recent floods," said Abdul Wali Mohammad, head of the transport department of the MoPW.

"At least 350 to 400 people have worked in this project, also 20 to 30 cars have conducted daily activities," said Miro Gul, head of the contractor company.

The MoPW called on the residents of the country to pay serious attention in maintenance of the street.

"I want to tell the people that this highway is a national asset and its maintenance is not only the responsibility of the governmentt but it is also the responsibilit of the people and also the drivers who should avoid from overloading their trucks," said Sadiqullah Rahimi, head of the department of construction of the MoPW.
"We will establish armed checkpoints to extract boodle estimate weight limit violations"
This comes as many residents of the southern provinces have expressed concerns over severe conditions of the streets and said that it was one of the reasons for traffic accidents.

"The highway to Kandahar be also damaged, especially the areas of Durani and Qalat and that is why traffic accidents happen," said Karimullah, a driver.

The Kabul-Jalalabad Highway connects Kabul with the eastern provinces and is considered as one of the main highways in the country.
Link


India-Pakistan
Gunman opens fire inside courtroom killing top lawyer in northwest Pakistan
2023-01-17
"The father of the attacker had represented Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani physician who helped the CIA find al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden"
[FoxNews] A gunman dressed as a lawyer shot and killed a prominent attorney inside a courtroom in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, police said.

The attacker, who was arrested at the scene, had opened fire at Abdul Latif Afridi, a former president of Pakistan’s lawyers union and a prominent figure in the community, fatally wounding him. The attack took place at the High Court in Peshawar.

The attacker, Adnan Khan, had previously accused Afridi of orchestrating the 2015 killing of his father, Samiullah Khan, who was also a lawyer, said Naeem Khan, a police officer.

It was unclear how the attacker managed to sneak into the court building with a handgun. The killing was condemned by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, government officials, politicians and lawyers.

In a statement, Sharif expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is the capital. His chief rival, the party of opposition leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan is in power in the provincial assembly.

Before his killing, Samiullah Khan, the father of the attacker, had represented Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani physician who helped the CIA find al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was killed in 2011 by Navy SEALs in a raid on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

The physician ran a fake vaccination campaign that helped locate and identify bin Laden. The doctor and the lawyer killed on Monday are not related.

In 2012, Pakistan sentenced Shakil Afridi to 33 years in prison on charges of allegedly providing money and medical treatment to Islamic militants in a former tribal region. Afridi and his family have denied those charges.

Pakistan was outraged over being kept in the dark ahead of the SEALs operation. Washington has demanded Afridi’s release but Islamabad has resisted the demand, saying he violated Pakistani law. The doctor was never formally charged in bin Laden’s case.
Khaama Press adds:
The police arrested the perpetrator and identified him as Adnan Afridi. The attacker was related to the Afridi tribe, and the incident happened due to personal enmity, according to the findings of the police.

The Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistain's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire...
high court bar association described the terror incident as security lapse and criticized how a gunman managed to reach the bar room, and shoot Afridi.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and many high-ranking Pak politicians and public figures condemned the brutal attack on the senior lawyer and expressed their deep condolences to the family and relatives of the victim.
More from Dawn:
Afridi, 80, was sitting in the Beautiful Downtown Peshawar High Court bar room with other lawyers when the att­acker shot up him, according to the police. He was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital but could not survive.

The police claimed that the attacker, identified as Adnan Samiullah Afridi, was arrested from the scene of the crime and moved to East Canto­n­ment Police Station where a case was registered.

An officer at the cop shoppe told Dawn that the suspect had confessed to the crime and that he had killed the victim over a family feud.

‘A PROGRESSIVE VOICE NO MORE’
Afridi’s killing marks the end of an era and has left the legal fraternity and his admirers shaken.

Latif Afridi, commonly known as Latif Lala, has left behind a legacy of a decades-long struggle for civil liberties, democracy, rule of law, and the rights of people, especially those belonging to the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Born in 1943, he had done his LLB from the University of Peshawar in 1968 and his career as a lawyer spanned over five decades. His election as the president of the Supreme Court
...the political football known as The Highest Court in the Land, home of penumbrae and emanations...
Bar Association in 2020 and multiple tenures as the president of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association is a testimony to his popularity among the lawyer community.

He had also remained the vice chairman and a member of the Pakistain Bar Council.

He was also a blunt critic of militancy in the region and often called for a clear state policy on terrorism. He was also vocal against the military’s interference in politics and termed the practice usurpation of the fundamental rights of people.

During his lifetime, Latif Lala was known for his progressive politics. Dur­ing his political career, he largely remained associated with the Awami National Party
founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism....
, with which he stayed until a few years ago. Before his death, he was a part of the National Democratic Party — a recently-formed party led by North Wazoo politician Mohsin Dawar.
Related:
Abdul Latif Afridi: 2019-09-19 MNAs Ali Wazir, Mohsin Dawar make bail in Kharqamar attack case
Abdul Latif Afridi: 2008-09-01 Tribal elders ask govt to target militants
Abdul Latif Afridi: 2007-10-31 Petition against TNSM chief's detention
Link


India-Pakistan
Officer among five army men martyred in North Waziristan
2022-09-06
It looks like there are still Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan wandering the woods in those parts, despite the army’s efforts.
[Dawn] A young army officer and four soldiers were martyred in an exchange of fire with turbans that took place when security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Boyya area of North Wazoo tribal district on Monday, the military said.

During the conduct of the operation, an intense exchange of fire took place between the troops and the terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media affairs wing, said. The troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location as a result of which four bad boyz were potted. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists.

The killed turbans remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent citizens, the ISPR said.

However,
if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well...
it said, during the intense exchange of fire, Captain Abdul Wali, 26; Naib Subedar Nawaz, 45; Havaldar Ghulam Ali, 34; Lance Naik Ilyas, 33; and Sepoy Zafar Ullah, 29, embraced shahadat.

Sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other turbans found there.

The ISPR said that Pakistain Army is "determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers will not go unpunished".
Link


Afghanistan
Senior TTP leader Omar Khalid Khorasani killed in Afghanistan, Taliban spokesperson confirms
2022-08-10
More on this story from yesterday.
[DAWN] Senior Tehrik-e-Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
Pakistain (TTP) leader Omar Khalid Khorasani and two others members of the banned outfit were killed in a roadside kaboom in Afghanistan on Monday, according to Taliban front man Muhamamad Khorasani.

Omar's real name was Abdul Wali Mohmand and he previously headed the TTP in the Mohmand Agency
... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
and Kunar...

bordering Afghanistan.

In a statement today, TTP officials said that the car carrying Omar came under attack in the eastern Paktika
...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo...
province near the Barmal district on Sunday evening.

They urged the Taliban government in Afghanistan to investigate the incident and unearth "spies" who could be responsible for the death of senior TTP leaders.

Apart from Omar, the two other men killed in the attack have been identified as Mufti Hassan and Hafiz Dawlat Khan. They were among several TTP leaders who had joined the outlawed ISIS in 2014.

It is pertinent to mention here that Omar was a member of the TTP team involved in negotiations with Pak officials, Pashtoon jirgas and recently with religious scholars over the past few weeks.

Recently, a jirga member had posted the TTP leader's photo on the sideline of its meeting with Pakistain's side which had held two rounds of talks in Kabul in the first week of June and late July.

Omar and a majority of the TTP members from Mohmand agency had parted ways with the TTP and formed a splinter faction Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain Jamaat Ahrar (TTP-JA) in 2014.

The then TTP chief Maulvi Fazalullah had sacked him after he had announced the formation of his own group Jamaat ul Ahrar, which comprised of almost all the Taliban leaders from the Mohmad Agency. Omar had accused the TTP leadership of deviating from the outfit's ideology.

The group received prominence when Jamaat-ul-Ahrar front man Ehsanullah Ehsan
...formerly the front man for the Pak Taliban, then the lips and tongue of the Jamaatul Ahrar splinter group in Mohmand Agency...
grabbed credit for the Wagah border suicide kaboom in November 2014, in which over 70 people, almost all civilians, were killed.

The TTP leader's killing could be seen as a major blow to the group, especially at a time when it is involved in talks with the Pak government.

Omar was wanted by the Pak government for his involvement in a series of attacks on security forces, tribal elders and members of the peace committee in the area.

In July 2017, one of the UN Security Council’s sanctions committees, upon Pakistain’s request, had approved the addition of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar in the list of entities and individuals subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Jane reached into her purse for her .38...
the United States added Omar's name to the US State Department's Rewards for Justice wanted list in March 2018. The US had announced a reward of up to $3 million for information on him.

In recent years, several TTP leaders, including former chief Maulvi Fazallah, have been killed in Afghanistan after they crossed into the border due to military operation in the tribal areas, Swat
...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat...
and parts of the Malakand division. Fazlullah, who served the TTP chief in Swat, was killed in a US dronezap in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province
... which is right down the road from Chitral. Kunar is Haqqani country.....
in June 2018.
Tolo News adds:
Meanwhile, some sources said that Khurasani was present in the negotiations which were reportedly held between the TTP and Pakistani government in Kabul.

The political analysts gave various views on the killing of Khurasani.

“To gain money and weapons from the US, (Pakistan) should always declare an enemy and that enemy is now TTP. This is an enemy who could be controlled everywhere and they can eliminate it anywhere they want to,” said Sher Hassan Hassan, a political analyst.

“I think there are disagreements among the TTP. Usually, whenever there are peace negotiations, the hardliners are on one side and the moderates are on the other side. I think it is about the internal disagreements among the TTP,” said Waheed Faqiri, a political analyst.

Khurasani was the chief of Jamat-ul-Ahrar (JuA), a TTP branch that is designated a terrorist group by the United Nations and United States, according to Reuters.
Related:
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Mohmand Agency: 2021-03-16 NDS kills key ‘Daesh Commander’ in Nangarhar
Mohmand Agency: 2020-02-24 Govt making efforts to arrest Ehsanullah Ehsan: Ijaz Shah
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Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain Jamaat Ahrar: 2014-11-06 TTP-JA warns attacks against India 'in the pipeline'
Related:
Ehsanullah Ehsan: 2022-07-08 26 killed in suicide attack near Nadra office in Mardan
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Ehsanullah Ehsan: 2021-02-07 UN recognizes threat to Pakistan by Afghan-based TTP, JuA terrorists
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