Suicide Bombings / Attacks
A Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and a suicide bomber were killed while 13 people, including two civilians were injured when Security Forces (SFs) foiled a suicide attack on the Joint Response Centre in Sabakzai area of Zhob District on October 9, reports Dawn. Zhob Assistant Commissioner Naveed Alam said that the centre was attacked by terrorists from three sides, while a suicide bomber was killed by SFs as he attempted to enter the building. Alam said that at the time of the attack, 45 FC officials, 10 Levies personnel, and five soldiers were present in the building.
Bomb Blasts/IEDS
An explosion left at least three Policemen wounded after their vehicle was struck by a bomb planted along the road in Bhai Cheena area of Khar tehsil (revenue unit) in Bajaur District on September 28, reports The News. The Station House Officer (SHO) and other Police officials remained safe in the incident, said the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). He said a search operation was launched against the suspects in the Bhai Cheena area.
A Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Khan Muhammad Lotani was injured, while his son and a Levies Force personnel were killed in a bomb blast in Zehri tehsil (revenue unit) of Khuzdar District on October 10, reports Dawn. According to an unnamed senior Levies Force personnel, PPP leader Khan Muhammad Lotani was returning home with his son and guard when a powerful explosion took place near their pickup truck in the Zehri area. The explosion was caused by a magnet bomb attached to the pickup, which was detonated remotely. No group so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near a Police mobile van while Police were on routine patrol in the Urmar area on the outskirts of Peshawar on October 17, reports Aaj TV. No casualties were reported.
Targetted Killings
Agha Khalid, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal), was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Kali Geo area of Quetta on September 28, reports Dawn. Police officials said the incident occurred when armed attackers on motorcycles opened fire on Shah and his cousin as they passed through the area.
A tribal elder was shot dead by unidentified assailants near Tak area of Wadh in Khuzdar District on September 30, reports Dawn. Levies officials said that Haji Noor Ahmed, an elder of Shahzai clan of Mengal tribe, was going to a bazaar when the armed men on motorcycles opened fire, killing him on the spot.
Miscellaneous
Muhammad Noman, the son of DSP Tank Haji Syed Marjan Khan was killed by unidentified assailants and his body was thrown in the Abdulkhel village of Dera Ismail Khan on September 29, reports Dawn. The body was recovered by the Police. Two Security Forces (SFs) personnel were injured when unidentified motorcyclists hurled a grenade on a check post at Taleemi Chowk in Turbat town of Kech District in the night of October 1, reports Dawn. Sherani Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sana Mahjabeen narrowly escaped unharmed after her vehicle was fired upon in her home district in Balochistan on Thursday, October 3, reports The Express Tribune. According to Levies sources, the incident occurred while Mahjabeen was on a routine patrol in one of the district’s troubled areas.
At least seven Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) by Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) near Makarwal area of Mianwali District on October 6, reports Aaj TV. Eight other militants managed to escape. Four militants were killed by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Khuzdar District of Balochistan on October 5, reports Dawn. Officials said the CTD conducted the operation based on intelligence regarding the presence of armed militants wanted by law enforcement agencies for various terrorist incidents.
Two militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) by Security Forces (SFs) in the Charbagh area of Swat District in the night of October 4, reports Aaj TV. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on October 6 gunned down two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists involved in the killing of CTD Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Ali Raza, during a raid in Sher Shah area of Karachi, reports Geo TV. The terrorists were identified as Hafiz Qasim Rasheed and Usman Qureshi. CTD said Hafiz Qasim Rasheed had spent 12 years in jail and was the Amir of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) in Karachi. On July 7, 2024, DSP Raza was killed after being targeted by terrorists in the Karimabad area of Karachi. A security guard of the residential building also lost his life in the attack. Two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan District on October 9, reports Dawn. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that Security Forces (SFs) conducted the operation in Mir Ali area when they were informed of the presence of terrorists therein. An intense firefight took place between SFs and TTP, with two terrorists being killed. Weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the slain terrorists.
At least 20 coalminers and a civil armed guard were killed and seven injured in an attack by unidentified armed men on a small private coal mine in Duki District of Balochistan in the early morning of October 11, reports Dawn. Police said that the victims hailed from various regions, including Pishin, Qilla Saifullah, Zhob, Muslim Bagh, Musa Khel, Quetta, and Afghanistan. Duki District Council Chairman Khairullah Nasir who owns the coalmine confirmed the incident, stating that the miscreants used “hand grenades, rocket launchers and other modern weapons” in the attack. Two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBOs) in Janikhel area of Bannu District on October 9, reports ARY News. During the conduct of the operation, after an intense exchange of fire, two khwarij were sent to hell, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. Two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist were killed when Security Forces (SFs) conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBOs) in Hassan Khel area of North Waziristan District on October 10, reports ARY News. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from slain terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the SFs as well as abductions and target killing of innocent civilians, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) killed three Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists in operation near Dou Pasi Bridge in Dhadar area of Sibi District on October 11, reports ARY News. A cache of arms and ammunitions were recovered from the possession of slain terrorists. Three militants affiliated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), involved in attacking Police in Sohrab Goth area of Karachi on June 3, 2024 were arrested during an intelligence-based operation from an undisclosed area of Karachi on October 20. According to a CTD statement, the militants were affiliated with Moulana Bashir Group of TTP.
Pakistan
TTP leaders live in Kabul, claims former Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan Asif Durrani
Former Pakistani envoy to Afghanistan Asif Durrani in an exclusive interview with Afghanistan International on September 30 said that about 6,000 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters are present in Afghanistan. He said that TTP leaders live in Kabul. Asif Durrani stated that the Taliban is unfamiliar with the principles of diplomacy and therefore, do not respect diplomatic norms. He also clarified that Taliban officials have not denied the presence of the TTP in Afghanistan, but have stated that they are managing the group. Durrani stated that the Taliban has said that TTP members will be transferred to the central regions of Afghanistan. The TTP is mainly based in provinces bordering Pakistan, such as Nangarhar, Kunar, Khost, Paktia and Paktika.
Militant attacks drop seven per cent, fatalities up in 3rd quarter of 2024; says PICSS and CRSS reports
According to reports released by Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) and Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), while militant attacks dropped by seven per cent in September, the third quarter of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities with 90 per cent surge in violence, Dawn reported on October 2. According to PICSS monthly report, the country’s security situation showed a relative improvement in September compared to August. The report indicates a seven per cent reduction in militant attacks, alongside a significant 56 per cent drop in fatalities. However, there was a slight seven per cent increase in the number of injured individuals.
According to the database, militants carried out 77 attacks across the country in September this year, resulting in 77 fatalities. These included 38 security personnel, 23 civilians, and 16 militants. Additionally, 132 people were injured, including 78 civilians and 54 security personnel. In response, the country’s Security Forces (SFs) neutralised 34 suspected militants and arrested 16 others. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) remained the most affected region, accounting for the bulk of militant activity, with 47 reported attacks. These incidents resulted in 54 deaths and 79 injuries. Former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), now merged into KP, were particularly hit the hardest. The region witnessed 26 militant attacks, resulting in 37 fatalities and 70 injuries. This marked a noticeable rise from August when 16 attacks resulted in 32 deaths in the same area. Mainland KP, meanwhile, saw 21 attacks that claimed the lives of 17 people and left nine injured. Compared to August, the pattern of violence remained largely consistent in this part of the province. Balochistan saw a significant reduction in militant activity following a surge in August. In September, the province witnessed 27 attacks, leading to 22 deaths and 48 injuries. This represents a substantial decrease from the 43 attacks, 125 deaths, and 77 injuries recorded in August. The downward trend in Balochistan offers a glimmer of hope after a particularly violent period the previous month. Punjab, although relatively quieter in terms of attacks — with only three incidents reported — faced mounting threats from militants. This escalation has kept the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab Police on high alert, especially in districts bordering southern KP, such as Mianwali and Dera Ghazi Khan, which are experiencing increased militant pressure.
Notably, no militant attacks were reported in Sindh, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, or Gilgit-Baltistan in September 2024. According to report of CRSS, third quarter of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns, with a 90pc surge in violence. A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review. Nearly 97pc of these fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan, marking the highest percentage in a decade, and over 92pc of these terror attacks and SFs’ operations were recorded in the same provinces. The total fatalities from three quarters of this year have now surpassed the total deaths recorded for the entire 2023; the number of fatalities rose to at least 1,534 in the first three quarters compared to 1,523 in 2023.
Terrorists arrested across Punjab in IBOs
The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on October 5 said that 18 terrorists were arrested during intelligence-based operations (IBO) across the province, reports Dawn. In a statement issued, the CTD said 134 the IBOs were conducted against terrorism in different Districts of the province, including Lahore, Khushab, Gujranwala, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahauddin and Mianwali. It added that 18 terrorists were arrested, 134 suspects interrogated, while 17 cases were registered against the terrorists, who were being investigated. The terrorists arrested were identified as Faiz, Azim, Tariq, Asif, Irfan, Ehsan, Fateh, etc, who belonged to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Islamic State (also known as Daish) and Al Qaeda, the statement added. The statement said that the CTD recovered weapons, 5429 grams of explosives, 18 detonators, a 53-foot safety fuse wire, one IED bomb, pistols with bullets, 48 pamphlets of banned outfits, two mobile phones and PKR 28,310 in cash. During this week, 2716 combing operations were conducted with the support of local Police and security agencies, 90141 persons were checked, 278 suspects were arrested, 263 FIRs were registered and 218 recoveries were made, the Department added.
Three persons including two Chinese engineers killed in BLA orchestrated VBIED suicide attack on the convoy of Chinese engineers in Karachi
Three persons including two Chinese engineers were killed and 12 other persons sustained injuries when Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) orchestrated a vehicle-borne suicide attack on a convoy of Chinese engineers on a road near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi in the night of October 6, reports ARY News. Sindh Home Minister, Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar, confirmed that several vehicles were destroyed in the blast as a convoy of foreign nationals passed through the area. He further confirmed that a total of four Police personnel and a rangers officials were injured, along with 8 others citizens. The explosion damaged 12 vehicles, 3 of which were completely destroyed, adds The Khorasan Diary. Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) said around 80 kilograms of commercial explosives were used in the attack. The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan confirmed that two of its citizens were killed in the attack and another injured amidst local casualties, who were working at the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited. Majeed Brigade of BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was a suicide bombing carried out using a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED).
Government bans the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement
The Federal Ministry of Interior on October 6 officially announced a ban on the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), reports The Balochistan Post. In a notification issued, the Ministry stated that “based on substantial evidence, the decision to ban PTM has been made.” The notification further claimed that PTM is involved in promoting an anti-state narrative and spreading chaos. The Ministry of Interior has now formally issued the ban, which will soon be implemented. However, PTM has responded by saying that its core committee is currently meeting and will release an official statement on the matter later.
Militants establish parallel courts in pockets of Tirah valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Undeterred by regular airstrikes and ground offensives by Security Forces against their positions, militant groups affiliated with proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) have established parallel courts in pockets of Tirah valley area in Khyber District, Dawn reported on October 21 quoting local sources. They said that armed militants also issued notices to Government officials, Police and even Frontier Crops (FC) personnel to either abandon their official responsibilities or leave the region. They said that armed men of TTP and LI also started collection of Ushr, an Islamic tax, from local drug dealers, who earned money through sale of cannabis, which was widely cultivated in the entire Tirah valley. Local sources told Dawn that in the absence of a proper judicial system and an effective administrative setup, the banned TTP and LI have ‘filled’ the gap by asking people to bring their issues to their Shura (council) for ‘speedy and judicious’ resolution. They said that locals had no other option but to approach Taliban for redressing their grievances, mostly pertaining to land and monetary disputes. The areas where such parallel courts have been established include Momandu Ghuz, Peer Mela, Serrai Kandaw, Tangi, Manzawoon, Sherdara and Arhanga where TTP and LI have maximum presence with their armed volunteers conducting regular patrolling alongside collecting Ushr.
Afghanistan Internal Dynamics
Taliban imposes additional restrictions on media
The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported that the Taliban imposed additional restrictions on media organizations in Afghanistan, prohibiting criticism of their laws and policies and banning the broadcast of live political shows on September 21, reports dw.com. The Taliban issued fresh guidelines instructing media organizations to only invite guests who are approved by the group. AFJC said, “The guideline is a new effort to further weaken and marginalize independent media.”
Taliban must fulfill commitment for sanctions and relief and legitimacy, says White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine JeanPierre said that if the Taliban seeks the lifting of sanctions and international legitimacy, it must fulfil its commitments, reports Tolo News on September 27. She said, “The Taliban want international legitimacy, to be removed from sanction list and foreign financing to restart the Afghan economy. These aspirations require the Taliban to live up to their commitments at minimum. Afghanistan cannot strengthen its economy unless women are able to participate in all aspects of society without limitations. So we will continue to engage with the Taliban on matters of our interest for example on respect for the rights of women and girls and the return of wrongfully detained US citizens and that’s how we’re going to move forward with.”
Quad nations call on Taliban to dismantle terror groups
On September 29, Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran issued a joint statement calling on the Taliban to dismantle terrorist groups, including Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Al-Qaida, Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul-Adl, and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), operating from Afghan soil, reports pakobserver.net. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 27. The joint statement reads, “The Ministers expressed deep concern over the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan, noting that terrorist groups such as ISIL, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul-Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other similar groups in the region including Majeed Brigade, as well as others, based in Afghanistan, continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security.” According to the statements, “Afghanistan should be supported in taking comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism and to eradicate terrorism at an early date.”
Uzbeks claim Taliban’s ethnic biases exclude them from political power
Uzbeks claimed that the Taliban’s ethnic biases excluded them from political power, denying them a meaningful role in national decision-making, reports Hasht-e Subh Daily. They argue that the Taliban’s mono-ethnic regime has failed to benefit Uzbeks over the past three years and has forced competent leaders into exile through threats.
Furthermore, they said Uzbeks who previously supported the Taliban now hold only symbolic roles. A report by the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) noted that Uzbeks constitute less than 3% of Taliban officials and have no decision-making power.
We want reform, not ban on student politics; says ICS ‘president’ Manjurul Islam
On September 27, Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) President Manjurul Islam said that they do not want a ban on student politics; they want logical reforms. This statement was made during a conference held at the auditorium of Alauddin Nagar Shikkha Palli Park in Kumarkhali Upazila (Sub-District) in Kushtia District of Khulna Division, reports Dhaka Tribune.
He stated, “We strongly urge the current interim government to swiftly revise the education system designed by the previous fascist government and create a new one in light of fresh perspectives.”
Bangladesh Awami Jubo League leader beaten to death in Noakhali District
On September 29, a Bangladesh Awami Jubo League leader named Mohammad Shahid (43) was beaten to death in Sadar Upazila (Sub-District) in Noakhali District of Chittagong Division, reports The Daily Star. According to locals, three other Jubo League activists — Riad Hossain, Jamal Uddin and Javed — were also beaten up inside a house in Surya Narayanbahar Village in the district.
44 deaths in mob violence in past two months, reports Médecins Sans Frontières
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also known as Doctors Without Borders released a report saying that in the past two months, there have been 53 mob attacks, including 33 in September alone, resulting in the deaths of at least 44 individuals, reports The Daily Star on October 1. MSF said, “The rise in mob lynching has raised serious concerns, shaking the public’s sense of security.”
The report said that since the Awami League-led government fell on August 5, at least 506 cases have been filed against its leaders, activists, government officials, and ministers, with over 200 of those cases against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Moreover, the 506 cases name at least 45,547 individuals, with a further 198,790 unnamed accused. In September alone, at least 238 cases were filed against AL members, 111 of which were against Hasina. So far, 90 people have been arrested in connection with these cases.
HuT media coordinator arrested in Dhaka
On October 4, a media coordinator of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), identified as Imtiaz Selim, was arrested by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police in Bashundhara Residential Area in Dhaka District of Dhaka Division, reports The Daily Star. Imtiaz faces charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Shahbagh Police Station and has also been accused of two other cases with Pallabi and Khilgaon Police stations.
Buddhist monks cancel Kathin Chibar Daan in CHT over safety concerns and racial violence
At a press conference on October 6 at Maitri Bouddha Bihar, which was ransacked and looted on September 20 in Rangamati District, the association of Buddhist monks from the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) announced they will not observe Kathin Chibar Daan this year due to safety concerns and recent racial violence in the area, reports The Daily Star.
Sraddhalankar Mahathera, president of the Parbatya Chattogram Bhikkhu Sangha, stated that several people were killed and over 100 shops were set on fire during communal violence on September 18, 19, 20, and October 1. Three indigenous people were shot dead in Khagrachhari while the Regional Council office was burnt down in Rangamati where a college student of the Chakma community was lynched in broad daylight, he added.
ICT issues arrest warrant for former PM Sheikh Hasina
On October 17, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued arrest warrants for former Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina and 45 others, including her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Anisul Huq, Dipu Moni, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and AKM Mozammel Haque and several former officials, in connection with their alleged role in crimes against humanity and genocide during the July-August uprising, reports The Daily Star. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said that The court ordered the authorities concerned to arrest the suspects and produce them before the tribunal by November 18.
India Internal Dynamics
Cache of arms and ammunition recovered in Manipur
On September 28, Manipur Police announced on X that a combined team of Security Forces (SFs) including Police and Assam Rifles, in search operations and area domination exercise, recovered forty HE-36 hand Grenade, two Pumpi shells, three detonators, 29 empty cases, one Stun Grenade, one Stinger Grenade, one Tear Smoke Grenade, two of Radio set with charger from Phainom Hill Range in Thoubal District of Manipur. On September 28, Manipur Police announced on X that a combined team of Security Forces (SFs) including Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF), in search operations and area domination exercise, recovered 08 (eight) nos. of Pumpis (improvised mortar) from Gothol village in Churachandpur District of Manipur.
Two Policemen injured in exchange of fire with JJMP cadres in Jharkhand
Two personnel of Jharkhand Police were injured in an exchange of fire with cadres of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP), a splinter group of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), in Bokhakhad forest under the Sadar Police Station limits in Latehar District of Jharkhand on October 7, reports latestly.com. Latehar Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumar Gaurav received a tip-off that 15-20 members of the JJMP were hiding in two houses within the forest. In response, a team led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Arvind Kumar launched a search operation and the exchange of fire lasted about one hour. Utilising the dense forest for cover, the JJMP cadres managed to escape.
West Asian crisis escalates trend of online radicalisation of gullible youth in India, reports Intelligence agencies On October 8, the intelligence agencies in their report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) alerted that with the West Asian crisis escalating as Israel engages in war on multiple fronts, there has been an increasing trend of online radicalisation of gullible youth in India, reports The New Indian Express. Its report to the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) under the UMHA, highlighted that there has been a massive increase in traffic on the internet relating to “attack videos and literature”, which portray the strikes on Muslims by Israel as “genocide”. The report further said, “There is a possibility of online radicalisation getting morphed into extremism and, eventually, attacks. Radicalisation in India is high, mainly among Shia Muslims that remained untouched so far”.
India prepares to build two nuclear-powered attack submarines
India approved on Thursday, Oct 10 plans to construct two of a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarines, two defence officials said, in a project estimated to cost about 450 billion rupees ($5.4 billion). As India scrambles to modernise its military in the face of China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean region, it is focusing on boosting naval capabilities, and improving domestic weapons-making capacity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet gave the go-ahead for the first two submarines of a new class of six the Indian Navy plans to make, the officials added, speaking on condition of anonymity, but stopped short of providing delivery dates. China, the world’s largest naval force, with more than 370 ships, has been a security concern for India since ties nosedived in 2020 after 24 troops died in clashes along their Himalayan frontier.
Faster, quieter and capable of longer underwater stays than conventional diesel-powered craft, which makes them more difficult to detect, nuclear-powered attack submarines rank among the most potent naval weapons in the world.Only a handful of nations make them now, such as China, France, Russia and the United States. India, which leased two nuclear-powered attack submarines from Russia in the past but since returned them, has been in talks with it to lease another. The new submarines will be built at the government’s shipbuilding centre in India’s southern port of Visakhapatnam. Construction major Larsen and Toubro LART.NS is also expected to join the project, one of the sources added.
IED explosion in Delhi
On October 20, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion occurred outside the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Public School in Sector 14, Rohini, Northwest Delhi, reports The Times of India. Pro-Khalistan outfit Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) claimed responsibility for the incident, posting a message on a Telegram group with a veiled reference to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, along with closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the blast. No fatalities or injuries were reported at the time of reporting.
| Monthly Fatalities: The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period September 23, 2024 to October 22, 2024: | ||||
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militants | Total | |
| Chhattisgarh | 04 | 10 | 06 | 20 |
| Jharkhand | 01 | 00 | 02 | 03 |
| Manipur | 03 | 00 | 04 | 07 |
| TOTAL | 08 | 10 | 12 | 30 |
Sudan paramilitary attack kills 18 at El-Fasher market: medic
A paramilitary attack on a market in the Sudanese city of El-Fasher killed 18 people, a medical source told AFP on Friday, Sept 27 after world leaders appealed for an end to the country´s wartime suffering. The Rapid Support Forces´ shelling of the market on Thursday evening also injured dozens, activists said separately, as the paramilitaries and regular army vie for control of the North Darfur state capital, 17 months into their war in the northeast African country.
“We received last night at the hospital 18 dead,” some of them burned and others killed with severe shrapnel injuries, the source at El-Fasher Teaching Hospital told AFP, requesting anonymity for their own protection. The plight of Sudan, and El-Fasher in particular, has been under discussion this week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “We must compel the warring parties to accept humanitarian pauses in El-Fasher, Khartoum and other highly vulnerable areas,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN, said on Wednesday.
The Teaching Hospital is one of the last still receiving patients in El-Fasher, where reports of a “full-scale assault” by RSF last weekend led UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for an urgent ceasefire. The paramilitaries have besieged El-Fasher since May, and famine has already been declared in Zamzam refugee camp near the city of two million.*** Paramilitary “artillery shelling continued this morning” on residential neighbourhoods and the market, the local resistance committee said on Friday.
Three policemen killed in Iran
At least three policemen were killed in separate attacks by militants and gunmen in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, state media reported on Monday, Sept 30. One of Iran’s poorest regions, Sistan-Baluchistan has long been plagued by unrest involving drug-smuggling gangs, rebels from the Baloch minority, and extremists. “A border guard was killed a few hours ago in a clash with gunmen in Hirmand in Sistan-Baluchistan province,” the official IRNA news agency reported. A separate attack on law enforcement in the same region on Monday left another border guard killed and two others wounded, IRNA said. The news agency also reported that a member of the police special force was killed in the town of Khash, also in Sistan-Baluchistan.
South Korean president warns North of ‘regime end’ if it uses nukes
North Korea´s Kim Jong Un would face the end of his regime if he used his nuclear weapons against the South, its president said on Tuesday, Oct 01 as Seoul staged a parade showcasing its military prowess. Fighter jets flew over downtown Seoul and tanks rolled through the streets, as South Korea displayed weaponry including its largest ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo-5, which is capable of destroying underground bunkers, for the first time.
The event, which marks Armed Forces Day in the South, comes as relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in decades, with Pyongyang declaring the South its “principal enemy” and moving nuclear-capable weapons to the border. “If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face the resolute and overwhelming response of our military and the US and Republic of Korea alliance,” Seoul´s President Yoon Suk Yeol said. “That day will be the end of the North Korean regime”. Washington stations tens of thousands of troops in South Korea to help defend it against the North, and Seoul — which has no nukes of its own — is covered by the US nuclear umbrella. Yoon urged the North to “abandon the delusion that nuclear weapons will protect them”, and slammed Pyongyang´s recent campaign of floating trash-carrying balloons into the South, which have caused airport disruptions and triggered small fires.
Haiti reeling after 70 killed in gang attack
Haiti reeling after 70 killed in gang attack The Haitian government has deployed specialist anti-gang police units, it said on Friday, Oct 04 after an apparent massacre northwest of Port-au-Prince that the United Nations said left at least 70 dead.
The attack, carried out early on Thursday in the town of Pont Sonde, some 100-kms from the capital, also saw scores of houses and vehicles torched after gang members open fired. “Members of the Gran Grif gang used automatic rifles to shoot at the population, killing at least 70 people, among them about 10 women and three infants,” UN Human Rights Office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement on Friday.
The Haitian Prime Minister´s office said in a statement that “this latest act of violence, targeting innocent civilians, is unacceptable and demands an urgent, rigorous and coordinated response from the state.”
The embattled Haitian National Police would be “stepping up its efforts,” the statement said, adding “agents from the Temporary Anti-Gang Unit (UTAG) have been deployed as reinforcements to back up teams already on the ground.” At least 16 people were seriously injured, the UN said, including two gang members shot by the police.
Ethiopia forces deploy against Amhara rebels
Ethiopian army forces have deployed in large numbers in the past fortnight to Amhara state, scene of a year-long insurgency, a security source told AFP on Saturday, Oct 19. The Fano, a long-standing “self-defence” militia for the Amhara ethnic group, the second largest in Ethiopia, took up arms against the federal government in April 2023 after it tried to disarm regional forces.
The government declared a state of emergency in Amhara, home to some 23 million people, in August 2023. While this expired in June, unrest has continued. “Over the past two weeks, there have been numerous reinforcements (of the federal army) and many arrests of officials suspected of collusion with the Fano,” a security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP. On Tuesday, rights group Amnesty International said there had been “mass arbitrary detentions” in Amhara, with authorities arriving with a list of hundreds to arrest, including some members of the academic community.
“The Ethiopian army and police´s ongoing campaign of arbitrary mass detentions in Amhara region is yet more evidence of the government´s total disregard for the rule of law,” said Amnesty regional director Tigere Chagutah. AFP was unable to independently verify the information, with the authorities severely restricting access to the region.
Steep rise in Russian executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war
Executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Vladimir Putin’s forces have surged this year, with a top Kyiv official warning it could indicate a shift in Russian policy. Some 80 per cent of the 93 prisoner executions recorded since the start of the war took place this year, Yuriy Belousov, the head of the prosecutor-general’s office, revealed on local TV. Gruesome videos and photos that appear to show the killings are often circulated by war bloggers and Telegram accounts, becoming vital evidence for Ukraine’s investigations.
In a video circulated last week, a shirtless man kneels in a grave while being pushed around by a figure wearing a Russian military uniform with Wagner PMC patches. A knife is pointed at his throat and he is forced to say: “Thank you, Uncle Zhenya Prigozhin, for raising such guys.” Prigozhin was the head of Russia’s infamous state-funded private military company Wagner, who died in a plane crash last year.
A second clip appears to show the back of the same man, shirtless and in army-green shorts, in a field. The person filming declares the man is “sentenced to death” in the name of the Russian Federation, before two people open fire. The Telegraph has not been able to independently verify the videos but Ukrainian authorities said they were investigating.
Last week, the prosecutor-general’s office announced it had opened an investigation into the “largest mass execution” since the start of the war, after 16 Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed in Donetsk. Unverified videos appear to show captured Ukrainian soldiers emerging from a forested area and lining up, before Russian forces open fire. Russian soldiers then approach the wounded and shoot them again at close range.
Six security guards killed in South Africa attack
Six security guards about to go on patrol near a school were shot and killed in South Africa, police said on Monday, Oct 07 not far from where 18 people were gunned down just over a week ago. “Six people were fatally shot, and four were injured at the Lugongozo Junior Secondary School in Tina Falls near Qumbu last night,” police said in a statement. “A group of at least eight men, who were armed with rifles and handguns, opened fire,” the statement said, adding that the suspects were “still at large”.
| Current Threat Levels : | ||
| City/Region | Threat Level | |
| Islamabad | Level 2 | ** |
| Karachi | Level 2 | ** |
| Lahore | Level 2 | ** |
| Punjab | Level 2 | ** |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Level 3 | *** |
| Peshawar | Level 2 | ** |
| Quetta | Level 2 | ** |
| Upper Balochistan | Level 3 | *** |
| Lower Balochistan | Level 2 | ** |
| Upper/ Rural Singh | Level 2 | ** |
| Gilgit and Northern Areas | Level 3 | *** |
| Tribal Areas, Close to Afghan Border | Level 3 | *** |
| Index to Threat Level References | |
Threat Level 1 No threat to foreigners although there may be isolated incidents involving petty crime. No security precautions are required | * |
Threat Level 2 No specific threat to foreigners, however because of the overall general law & order situation, some security precautions are advised, especially if traveling. | ** |
Threat Level 3 Indicates that law and order situation is cause for concern and travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Foreigners should rehearse plans for evacuation. | *** |
Threat Level 4 Indicates complete breakdown of civil administration and law and order leading to possible anarchy. All foreigners to remain indoors and confined to their own city. Families and staff not required to be evacuated retaining only a skeleton staff. | **** |
Threat Level 5 Indicates complete breakdown of law and order, enemy action/hostilities, invasion/occupation by enemy. | ***** |
