Suicide Bombings / Attacks
At least 26 persons were killed and more than 50 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber blew himself near the ticket counter of Quetta Railway Station on November 9, reports Aaj TV. According to railway authorities, the Jaffar Express was scheduled to depart for Peshawar at 9 am but the train had not yet arrived at the platform when an explosion occurred near the ticket office at the railway station while a large number of passengers were present on the platform. The Majeed Brigade of Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) while claiming responsibility for the attack said the group had carried out a suicide bombing at the train station in Quetta targeting military personnel.
Twelve Security Forces (SFs) personnel and six terrorists were killed after a checkpost was targeted in Mali Khel area of Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on November 19, reports Dawn. More than 10 other personnel sustained injuries. A suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the Mali Khel checkpost, followed by a firing raid of terrorists. In a press release, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the “khwarij attempted to attack a Joint Check Post in general area Mali Khel in Bannu District”. The attack was effectively thwarted, the ISPR said, but a suicide blast led to the collapse of the check post’s perimeter wall and adjoining infrastructure, resulting in the martyrdom of 10 soldiers and two Frontier Constabulary personnel. Jabha Ansar al-Mahdi, a sub-group of Hafiz Gul Bahadur’s faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.
Bomb Blasts / IEDS
At least nine people including five school children were killed while 29 others sustained injuries when an explosion targeted a Police mobile van near the Civil Hospital and Girls School Chowk in Mastung town (Mastung District) on November 1, reports Dawn. The blast occurred around 8:35 AM and targeted a busy area, resulting in severe casualties, including school children aged between five and ten years. The initial investigation suggested that an improvised explosive device (IED) attached to a motorcycle was detonated near a Police van, causing extensive damage to the vehicle and nearby auto-rickshaws.
A local Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) leader, Mufti Ejazul Haq was killed and five others were injured in an explosion near a mosque in Azam Warsak market of South Waziristan District on November 17, reports Dawn. According to Police, a remote-controlled bomb exploded at 5pm when prayer leader Maulana Shahzada Wazir was leaving his mosque after prayers. He survived the attack and was moved to a hospital in injured condition.
Targetted Killings
Five private security personnel deployed at a construction site were killed by unidentified assailants in Diz Paroom area of Panjgur District in Balochistan on October 28.
Two persons were killed while a woman sustained injuries after a local passenger transport came under attack by unidentified assailants in a suspected sectarian attack near the Dad Qamer Ochat area of Kurram District on November 5.
At least two Frontier Constabulary (FC) soldiers were killed and four other FC soldiers sustained injuries when unidentified terrorists attacked their vehicle in Saggu area of Dera Ismail Khan District on November 5.
Two Chinese persons were shot 16 times and injured in a textile mill by a private security guard on duty in a suspected act of terrorism at Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) area in Karachi, on the morning of November 5. The guard managed to escape. The First Information Report (FIR) includes charges of terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
A Policeman, identified as Qudratullah, was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle riders near his home in Peshawar on November 13. Qudratullah was leaving his house for personal errands when the assailants opened fire at him and managed to escape.
Miscellaneous
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on October 29 claimed responsibility for the killing of District special branch (DSB) official of the Police, identified as Arif Khan, in Sarai Gambella area of Lakki Marwat District on October 28 Diary. TTP affiliated media said that the official was targeted because he led the operation that killed Maulvi Rohullah, a TTP affiliate.
Eight militants and three soldiers were killed while seven militants sustained injuries in an exchange of fire during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Bakka Khel area of Bannu District on October 30, reports Dawn. A statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the Security Forces (SFs) planned an IBO after reports about the presence of militants in the area. It said the security forces effectively engaged militants and killed eight of them.
One militant was killed while another militant was arrested during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Sambaza area of Zhob District in the night of October 29, reports Dawn. A statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the Security Forces (SFs) conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the general area of Sambaza following a tip-off.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on November 1 claimed arresting 12 terrorists affiliated with different banned outfits including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Zainabyun Brigade from different areas of Punjab. Other than cash, 1310 grams of explosives, improvised explosive device (IED) bombs and different arms and ammunition were also recovered, said Punjab CTD spokesperson.
The ISPR statement said that four militants were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Bakakhel area of Bannu District in the early hours of November 2.
The dead body of a former associate of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud, Maulana Ahmad Jan Kakakhel Wazir was found in Ghorlama area of South Waziristan District on NoMISCELLANEOUS vember 5. He was kidnapped from Wana two days ago. Six militants affiliated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadar group were killed and six others were injured in an operation near Kaitu river of North Waziristan District reported on November 9.
Security Forces (SFs) killed two terrorists in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan District on November 10, reports Dawn. According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the SFs in the Spinwam area.
Two terrorists were killed and two sustained injuries in Security Forces (SFs) firing as a group of Khawarij were attempting to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Spinwam area on November 10, reports Dawn.
Security Forces (SFs) killed four terrorists, including a “high-value target”, during an exchange of fire in Balgatar area of Kech District on November 13, reports Dawn. According to a statement by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), SFs conducted an intelligence-based operation in the general Balgatar area of Kech on the “reported presence of terrorists.
“During [the] conduct of the operation, after an intense fire exchange between own troops and the terrorists, four terrorists including a high-value target, terrorist ring leader Sana [alias] Baru were killed,” the statement said. The killed terrorist was a focal recruitment agent, “especially suicide bombers, for the so-called Majeed Brigade in District Kech and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.”
Pakistan
Anti-Terrorism Law amendment bill presented in National Assembly
The National Assembly on November 1 introduced a proposed amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act, granting the armed forces and paramilitary units the authority to detain individuals involved in serious crimes for up to three months, reports The Express Tribune. This amendment, put forth by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, aims to strengthen national security and public order. Under the amendment, armed forces and paramilitary units may detain suspects linked to offences affecting national security, extortion, targeted killings, and kidnapping. The proposed legislation specifies that any detention beyond three months will require transparent trial rights under Article 10-A of Pakistan’s constitution. A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) would oversee the inquiry into the allegations against suspects. The JIT would include officials from law enforcement, the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and senior police officers, focusing on rigorous and collaborative investigation.
Terrorists have acquired capability to make lethal weapons, says FIA chief Ahmad Ishaque Jahangir
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General (DG) Ahmad Ishaque Jahangir said that terrorist organisations and extremist actors were continuously improving their techniques for manufacturing and deploying lethal weapons, making Project Watchmaker, which is led by Interpol, a crucial instrument in preventing these threats, reports Dawn.
This was stated by DG FIA while addressing the participants of the 1st Working Group Meeting for Project Watchmaker in Pakistan, organised by Interpol, held in Islamabad from October 29-31, 2024. Director General FIA, outlined the critical role of collaboration and technology in countering non-state actors who exploit chemical and explosive vulnerabilities to create widespread harm.
He stressed that terrorist groups and extremist actors are continuously advancing their methods to manufacture and deploy dangerous weapons, which makes the Interpol-led Project Watchmaker an essential tool in thwarting these threats. FIA spokesman said in a press release that this was the 1st Working Group Meeting for Project Watchmaker in Pakistan, organised by Interpol.
Three BLA terrorists killed in CTD operation in Balochistan
Three Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists were killed and two were arrested during a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) operation in the Rarhasham area of Musakhel District on November 3, reports Dawn.
According to the spokesperson, the CTD and law enforcement agencies received “credible information” about terrorists belonging to the proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) active in the Rarhasham area of Musakhel. “Forces [including] CTD, FC and police were deployed in general area and late at night one of the deployed force contingent came across a group of 10-12 terrorists, moving towards main road,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“The terrorists were intercepted and heavy exchange of fire followed.” During the gun battle, three terrorists were killed and two others were apprehended, according to the CTD spokesperson.
Terrorists expanding their operational outreach across the country, says PIPS monthly report
According to the monthly report of Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think tank, the terrorists have been expanding their operational outreach across the country, Dawn reported on November 5. In October alone, 48 terrorist attacks were reported across 28 Districts in four provinces, resulting in 100 deaths and 80 injuries. PIPS report highlighted that the majority of the 48 reported attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, with 35 and nine incidents, respectively.
The intensified response from Security Forces (SFs), resulting in the reported killing of 84 militants across 15 Districts in all four provinces, not only indicates a proactive counterterrorism strategy but also highlights the widespread nature of militant activity.
A total of 48 terrorist attacks took place in the country in October 2024, as compared to 45 during the month before. These attacks resulted in 100 fatalities, compared to 54 in the preceding month. The 100 reported deaths comprised 52 security personnel, 36 civilians and 12 militants. The 35 recorded attacks in KP included several major incidents in Bannu, Kurram, Dera Ismail Khan, North Waziristan and Orakzai, resulting in 64 deaths — 49 of whom were security personnel — and 40 injuries. Balochistan saw nine terrorist incidents during October 2024, which resulted in 30 deaths — an increase from 19 in the previous month.
However, most of these deaths resulted from a single attack in Duki that claimed the lives of 21 mine workers. This trend suggests a targeted strategy by terrorists to destabilise areas where they may enjoy greater operational freedom due to geographical or socio-political factors. The limited yet significant occurrences of terrorist violence in Sindh and Punjab — two attacks each — indicate an effort by these groups to broaden their influence beyond traditional strongholds.
A notable example is deadly vehicle-borne suicide attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which reflects a deliberate strategy to undermine key economic partnerships. Similarly, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists are reportedly aiming to expand their reach into Balochistan’s Pashtun belt and into Punjab, particularly in Districts bordering KP like Mianwali, signaling a strategic push to extend their influence, the report maintains.
BLA cadre surrenders in Balochistan
Talat Aziz, a former member of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), on November 8 announced to abandon militancy and join the national mainstream, stating that “the state aims to make us responsible citizens, while terrorists mislead innocent Baloch youth and use them against the state for their own ulterior motives”. Provincial Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Aitezaz Ahmad Goraya, and Balochistan Government spokesperson Shahid Rind were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at a press conference in Quetta, Aziz shared details of his journey, recounting that he initially received his education in Quetta before attending college in Sibi and later securing a scholarship to study political science at Punjab University, where he was in his third semester. He mentioned that during his time at Punjab University, he became acquainted with some students affiliated with the Baloch Council who persuaded him to join the banned organization and eventually led him to the mountains. After experiencing the situation there, he realized he had made a wrong choice and ultimately fled.
Mastermind and facilitator of October 6 attack on Chinese national convoy arrested in Karachi city of Sindh
The Mastermind and his female accomplice who targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers on a road near Jinnah International Airport in Karachi on the night of October 6, were arrested by Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) during an intelligence-based operation from Umar Goth area of Karachi in the night of November 10, reports The Khorasan Diary. The mastermind was identified as Javed alias Sami and his facilitator Gul Nisa. The suicide bomber was identified as Fahd Shah after his finger prints were ascertained from a showroom in Karachi.
Three persons including two Chinese engineers were killed and 12 other persons sustained injuries in the attack. Majeed Brigade of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had claimed responsibility of the attack.
Audio leak suggests TTP militants find refuge in Afghanistan
An audio recording featuring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders Noorwali and Haji Ghat has surfaced, raising concerns about terrorist activities in Pakistan and safe havens in Afghanistan, Aaj TV reported on November 13. In the recording, Noorwali exerted pressure on terrorists entering the country, insisting that they must not return to Afghanistan.
He emphasizes that “Mujahideen” are not permitted to change their paths and urges them to remain committed to their cause. The call highlighted for all members to be prepared for sacrifice and to stay united on their current path. The audio hinted at a potential influx of foreign terrorists into Pakistan, with Noorwali reportedly coercing lower-level terrorists to join the “jihad”. Experts have observed that many terrorists are becoming increasingly discontent with their leaders in Afghanistan. Defense experts have pointed out that the leaders of the TTP, based in Afghanistan, issue directives to terrorists, suggesting that their safe havens are supported by the Afghan Taliban. They noted that the TTP, with Taliban backing, have been responsible for terrorist attacks in Pakistan, indicating a troubling collaboration between the two groups.
At least 44 persons killed in sectarian attack on convoy of passenger vans in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
At least 44 persons were killed while 16 others sustained injuries in a suspected sectarian attack when a convoy of passenger vans comprising of three vehicle came under fire by unidentified militants in Bagan area of Kurram District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on November 21. Most of the victims were Shia, adds Aaj TV. The van was coming from Parachinar, going to Peshawar. “Two separate convoys of Shia people… were targeted by the terrorists in the Kurram district,” Kurram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud said. “Initial reports confirm that the victims include six women, several children, and police officers,” he added. “Approximately 10 attackers were involved in both incidents, firing indiscriminately from both sides of the road”, he added further. “Both convoys consisted of around 40 vehicles travelling under police escort,” a Police officer said condition of anonymity.
UN official reports sexual violence against detained women in Taliban custody
Richard Bennett, the United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, released a new report detailing severe human rights abuses under Taliban rule, including alarming cases of sexual violence against detained women, reports Amu TV on October 29. In this report, Bennett warned about several key issues, including escalating gender-based violence, erosion of women’s rights, abuses against Afghan children, violations of ethnic and religious minorities, and extrajudicial killings, while calling for international accountability.
Controlling border infiltration in Pakistan not possible, says Afghan charge d’Affaires in Pakistan Mawlawi Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb
Afghan Charge d’Affaires in Pakistan Mawlawi Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb on October 29 stated that while certain elements may infiltrate into Pakistan, it was not part of the Afghan interim government’s policy, reports Aaj TV. At a seminar titled ‘Stabilising Economic Relations between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia,’ organised by the Institute of Regional Studies in Islamabad, Shakeeb acknowledged the existing channels of communication between Pakistan and Afghanistan but noted that there was no high-level dialogue taking place. He mentioned that while Pakistan may have some complaints, the Afghan Government was uncertain about how to assure Pakistan regarding peace and security.
While denying allegations that Afghan territory was used against Pakistan, Shakeeb asserted: “These claims are completely false. Afghanistan does not allow its land to be used against anyone.” He acknowledged that while infiltration does occur, it was not a policy of Afghanistan and emphasized that controlling such border crossings “is not a new issue.” He added: “Even if there were a desire to manage this situation, it would remain impossible.” Shakeeb claimed that no Afghan engages in terrorism upon entering Pakistan, emphasising that Afghanistan “does not permit any Afghan to participate in jihad in neighbouring countries, with formal fatwas already issued on this matter.”
IS-KP kills 28 civilians across Afghanistan over past three months, reports UN
United Nations (UN) reported that 28 civilians were killed and 50 injured in four attacks by the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS-KP) in Afghanistan from July to September, indicating increased violence against civilians in Kabul, Nangarhar, and Ghor, reports Amu TV. The quarterly U.N. report covering July 1 to September 30 details a series of attacks in Afghanistan, including an explosion in Kabul’s Dasht-eBarchi on August 11 that killed one civilian and injured 13, an explosion in Dara-i-Noor district, Nangarhar Province, that left six dead and four injured, a suicide bombing in Kabul on September 2 that killed seven and wounded 29, and an armed assault targeting ethnic Hazaras in Ghor Province’s Daykundi area on September 12 that resulted in 14 deaths and four injuries.
Additionally, border skirmishes between Taliban and Pakistani troops led to six Afghan civilian deaths and eight injuries across Kunar, Nangarhar, and Khost, including a July 1 clash in Kunar that killed one woman and injured two, cross-border fighting on August 12 in Nangarhar that killed a woman, a young boy, and a man while injuring one, and a September 7 clash in Khost that left one woman and one man dead and five injured.
The risk of the spread of terrorism in Central Asia remains, warns CSTO
On November 7, TASS news agency reported that Imangali Tasmagambetov, the Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) referring to Afghanistan, warned that the risk of the spread of terrorism in Central Asia remains, reports Afghanistan International. He stressed that the CSTO continues to monitor challenges and threats from Afghanistan. He also added that there is still a risk of the spread of terrorist activities, illegal migration and illegal trafficking of weapons and drugs in Central Asia. He also announced that the Counter-Terrorism Centre of CSTO and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will expand their cooperation to prevent potential dangers by using common capabilities.
Bangladesh Internal Dynamics
JeI ‘chief’ demands justice for October 28, 2006 killings
On October 28, Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) ‘amir’ (chief) Shafiqur Rahman demanded justice for every killing from October 28, 2006 to August 5, 2024, by the Awami League and its collaborators, reports bssnews.net. He said, “The interim government might not complete the trial, but it must start.” Furthermore, he said, “Our previous demand was making Bangladesh free from Hasina.
Now, the demand is making the country free from Awami League as its cohorts as they are still remaining at different tires of the administration including police, RAB and army.” According to Rahman, on October 28, 2006, Awami tourists along with Jubo League and Chhatra League attacked Jammat’s pre announced rally and beaten to death many people using ‘Logi-boitha’ at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram.
Rohingya couple arrested with arms and ammunition in Cox’s Bazar
On October 27, a couple was arrested by the District Detective Police (DB) at jetty no. 6 on the Bankkhali River in Cox’s Bazar city while smuggling four homemade guns to a Rohingya camp in Teknaf Upazila (Sub-District in Cox’s Bazar District of Chittagong Division, reports Prothom Alo. The arrestees were identified as Khurshida Akhtar and her husband Delwar Hossain.
Left student bodies protest against ICS politics in JU campus in Dhaka
On October 30, Nur-E-Tamim, a student from the Anthropology department, led a protest at Jahangirnagar University (Dhaka) by left-leaning student organizations against the politics of Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), which paraded across campus and ended at the Shaheed Minar with a brief rally, reports Prothom Alo. Addressing the rally, Faiza Mehzabin, a student of Urban and Regional Planning department, said, “Jamaat-Shibir is the collaborators of the genocide in 1971. The hands of Jamaat-Shibir are blooded with the genocide of 1971 like the hands of Sheikh Hasina are blooded with the killings of the 2024 student-people mass uprising.
They cannot deny the responsibility of this genocide. Chhatra Shibir as a terrorist organisation unleashed a reign of terror in the 1980s. Like in the past Chhatra Shibir tried to suppress and resist the general progressive-minded people on the campus, they dared rehabilitate again now.” Saying that Chhatra Shibir has no rights to do politics in independent Bangladesh, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front’s JU unit organiser Shohagi Samia said, “We want to clarify that we hold responsible the organisations that went against the spirit of the 1971 liberation war more than the individuals who would do so. Today, you have come to do politics upholding that ideology in 2024; the organisations that never want independence and Bangladesh have no right to do politics in Bangladesh.
The constitution states secularism. So, a student organisation in no way can do politics with religion in a secular state.” Chhatra Union’s JU Sangsad (faction) president Amartya Roy said, “We never saw Chhatra Shibir to protest the issues like price hikes and killing of workers. They are busy in sharing Shahbag and Shapla Chattar. The political party that has blood in hands must come to politics through a trial, and that can be social or legal trial. For this, they must apologise to 14,000 students before coming to the campus.”
I want Sheikh Hasina back from India, says Chief Advisor of the interim government Mohammad Yunus
On November 17, Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus, in his address marking 100 days of the interim government said that his government want the return of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina from India, reports Prothom Alo. He said, ‘We will judge every murder of the July-August Revolution. The initiative we have taken to prosecute the July-August murders is progressing well. We will also want the fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina back from India.’
He further said, “During the revolution, about one and a half thousand students-workers-people were martyred. Our government is collecting data on every death with great care. 19 thousand 931 people were injured in this revolution… Every day more and more martyrs are added to the list, who have left this world due to the outrage of dictatorship.
We will prosecute every murder.” He added, “Not only the July-August killings, we will prosecute all the misdeeds of the last 15 years. Many people have disappeared, murdered during this time. We have constituted a commission to investigate the disappearance. The head of the commission told me that till October they have received information about 1 thousand 600 missing persons. In their opinion, this number will exceed 3 thousand 500.
Many are afraid to file a missing person complaint with the commission thinking that they may be victimized again by the accused persons. I want to assure you that you should report your complaint to the commission without hesitation. No one can afford to lay hands on you again.”
India Internal Dynamics
Kuki militants launch attack in Manipur
On October 30, Kuki Militants launched an attack with drone bombing at Kadangband in Imphal West District of Manipur, reports Imphal Free Press. The bomb dropped by the drone struck the north side of the residence of Okram Hardash (35) from Kadangband Part-2 Mayai Leikai under Lamshang Police Station in Imphal West District.
However, there were no casualties till the time of filing this report. Eyewitnesses to the incident claimed to have sighted a drone shortly after the sound of the explosion.
Items used by the Maoists recovered during a joint raid operation in Jharkhand
During a joint raid operation by the Jharkhand Jaguar (JJ) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), the Police and SSB team recovered items used by the cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in their daily lives like blankets, tarpaulins, and other items from the Devragni Forest in Gumla District of Jharkhand on October 30, reports prabhatkhabar.com.
According to the information, the Police had received secret information about the presence of the supremo of Jhangur group Ramdev Oraon and active members of his squad and have launched the raid operation.
However, on getting information about the arrival of Police and SSB, Ramdev Oraon fled from the area with other members of his squad. The Police chased the Maoists, but taking advantage of the dense forest, the rebels managed to escape. All these items recovered were in a mountain cave where the Maoists of the Jhangur group hide.
Letter from Maoist outfit warns BRS leaders of action in Telangana
A letter allegedly written by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), signed under the name “Jagan,” warned BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) leaders of consequences for allegedly exploiting people in the name of the Dalit Bandhu Scheme (DBS), in Kataram Mandal (administrative subdivision) of Jayashankar Bhupalpally District of Telangana, reports Deccan Chronicle on October 30.
The letter claimed that some BRS leaders took advantage of the DBS announced by the BRS government, collecting large sums of money from unsuspecting Dalit people. It was alleged that these leaders deceived the public with reassuring promises, pocketing lakhs of rupees from them in Jayashankar Bhupalpally District.
The letter demanded that these leaders return the money to the Dalit people or face severe repercussions. It listed the names of various BRS leaders, including former Zilla Parishad Territorial Committees (ZPTCs), Madal Praja Parishads (MPPs), Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) members, Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), sarpanches, as well as former municipal chairpersons, vice chairpersons, and mandal-level party presidents.
Two security personnel injured in Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh
Two security personnel sustained injuries in an attack by suspected cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist during a weekly market in Sukma District in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh on November 3 (today), reports cgkhabar.com. According to the Police, the incident occurred when a small action team of Maoists targeted the Security Forces (SFs) while they were on duty at the Jagargunda weekly market. The attack was swift, leaving the soldiers little time to respond before the assailants fled the site.
India holds virtual interaction with IOR littorals
On November 5, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy interacted with Heads of Navies/ Maritime Agencies and Senior Leadership from Indian Ocean Region (IOR) littorals viz., Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania, during the third edition of virtual interaction of MAHASAGAR, reports pib.gov.in. The interaction’s theme on “Training Cooperation to Mitigate Common Maritime Security Challenges in IOR”, highlighted the present and necessary imperatives for training corporation towards mitigation of common maritime security challenges in the IOR. MAHASAGAR is the Indian Navy’s flagship outreach for high-level virtual interaction between Maritime Heads for Active Security And Growth for All in the Region.
Maharashtra cracks down on 180 frontal organisations to combat Maoist plans to disrupt polls, says report
Security and intelligence agencies have joined forces to increase surveillance on around 180 pro-Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) private organisations spread across Maharashtra, reports The Times of India on November 9. These frontal organisations project various socio-political agendas, but their main aim is to ensure that no parties inimical to the Maoist cause come to power after the elections in Maharashtra. The end goal is to prevent the formulation and implementation of plans to eradicate Maoism from the region. Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah has urged Maoist-affected states like Maharashtra to set a deadline for eliminating Maoism. The Maharashtra government, which is planning a law against frontal organisations of the banned CPI-Maoist, titled the Maharashtra Security Act, has reportedly set a deadline of April-December 2025. The frontal organisations are reportedly active in many Maharashtra cities like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Kolhapur, Satara, Nanded, Yavatmal, Akola, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Wardha, Bhandara, and Gondia. Their aim is to undermine the vote bank of parties they label ‘primary enemies’, such as those in power currently, by supporting their ‘secondary enemies’ in the coming election.
| Monthly Fatalities The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period October 23, 2024 to November 22, 2024: | ||||
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Chhattisgarh | 10 | 00 | 08 | 18 |
| Odisha | 01 | 00 | 01 | 02 |
| Maharashtra | 00 | 00 | 05 | 05 |
| Manipur | 16 | 01 | 08 | 25 |
| Total | 27 | 01 | 22 | 50 |
International
Sikh separatist claims Indian ‘spy network’ operates in US, Canada
Canada and the US must get tougher on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for trying to silence dissidents on foreign soil, a Sikh separatist who was the target of an alleged India-led murder plot said in an interview on Oct 28.
The US Justice Department has unsealed indictments against two Indian nationals in connection with an alleged plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen, in New York. The two Indian accused included an ex-government official, who the indictment said worked as an intelligence officer at the time and had orchestrated the assassination plan.
Pannun told Reuters earlier this month that the Modi government should not be allowed to conduct hostile activity in foreign countries and said India’s consulates in the US and Canada were running a “spy network”, although he did not provide any proof.
The US and Canada “need to put their foot down that regimes like Modi’s…should not be allowed to come to America or Canada, challenge their sovereignty and get away with it. They need to put their foot down and close (the consulates) permanently,” he said. Pannun did not elaborate on the alleged spy network. Similar assertions have been made by Sikh activists in America and Canada.
Russia fires missiles to simulate ‘massive’ response to a nuclear attack
Russia test-fired missiles over distances of thousands of miles on Tuesday, Oct 29 to simulate a “massive” nuclear response to an enemy first strike. “Given the growing geopolitical tensions and the emergence of new external threats and risks, it is important to have modern and constantly ready-to-use strategic forces,” President Vladimir Putin said as he announced the exercise.
It took place at a critical moment in the Russia-Ukraine war, after weeks of Russian signals to the West that Moscow will respond if the United States and its allies allow Kyiv to fire longer-range missiles deep into Russia.
On Monday Nato said that North Korea has sent troops to western Russia, something Moscow has not denied. In televised comments, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov told Putin that the purpose of the drill was to practise delivering “a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to a nuclear strike by the enemy”.
The exercise involved Russia’s full nuclear “triad” of ground-, sea- and air-launched missiles. A Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Plesetsk cosmodrome in northwest Russia to Kamchatka, a peninsula in the far east. Sineva and Bulava ballistic missiles were fired from submarines, and cruise missiles were launched from strategic bomber planes, the defence ministry said.
The 2-1/2-year-old war is entering what Russian officials say is its most dangerous phase as the West considers how to shore up Ukraine while Russian forces advance in the east of the country.
Putin said using nuclear weapons would be an “extremely exceptional measure”. “I stress that we are not going to get involved in a new arms race, but we will maintain nuclear forces at the level of necessary sufficiency,” he said.
Canada-India tensions could escalate cyber threats, hinder immigration
Canada’s deepening dispute with India over its alleged campaign of violence against Sikhs in Canada could intensify Indian-based cyber espionage and hold back immigration, but analysts and experts see no immediate impact on trade.
Concern about a widening rift between the two countries comes after a senior Canadian official told a parliamentary national security committee on Tuesday, Oct 29 that Indian Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was the mastermind behind the alleged plots.
While Indian officials dismissed the official’s statement, the disclosure might worsen a dispute that started a year ago when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited credible evidence linking Indian agents to the June 2023 shooting of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
In response, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats earlier this month, accusing them of involvement. Four men have been charged with his murder. The Canadian signals intelligence agency that monitors foreign-based cyber threats said New Delhi was most likely already conducting threatening cyber activity against Canadian networks for spying purposes.
13 people shot dead in Sudan attack
At least 13 people were shot dead on Sunday, Nov 03 in an attack blamed on Sudan´s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al-Jazira state south of Khartoum, a medical source told AFP.
“Thirteen people were killed as a result of the Rapid Support Forces opening fire on civilians in the town of Al-Hilaliya in eastern Al-Jazira state,” about 70-kms north of the state capital Wad Madani, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Sudan´s Al-Jazira state has become a key battleground following the defection of RSF commander Abu Aqla Kaykal. Kaykal recently joined the Sudanese army, along with what the military described as “a large number” of his troops, in the first high-ranking defection from the RSF.
Russia sees no grounds for strategic or arms control talks with US
Russia’s foreign ministry sees no grounds for talking about resuming dialogue on strategic stability and arms control with the United States at the moment, Interfax news agency reported on Saturday, Nov 02 citing Russia’s deputy foreign minister. Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow and Washington “are exchanging signals on Ukraine” through closed channels at the military and political levels, according to Interfax.
He also said that Russia was ready to listen to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposals on resolving the crisis in Ukraine, adding that there could be no simple solution.
“We are extremely thorough, responsible and attentive to any ideas that are proposed by countries in this area,” Interfax quoted Ryabkov as saying.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated Trump on winning the U.S. election, praised him for showing courage when a gunman tried to assassinate him in July, and said Moscow was ready for dialogue with Trump. He said comments that Trump had made about trying to end the war were worthy of attention.
Ryabkov also commented on Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, saying it would make it possible “to turn to the nuclear option” if there was an acute crisis in relations with the West and the situation in Ukraine, Interfax reported. “This process will be finalised. The president of the Russian Federation as supreme commander-in-chief will undoubtedly make decisions that will mean the improvement of the conceptual foundations of our activities in this sphere,” Ryabkov told Interfax.
Five Iranian security forces killed in attack
At least five members of Iran´s security forces were killed on Sunday, Nov 10 in a “terror attack” in the restive southeast, where authorities have been conducting operations against rebels, local media reported.
The Fars news agency reported that in a “terror attack in Saravan county, in the south of the Sistan-Baluchistan province, five members of the security forces were killed”. Fars said that after the attack in Saravan, “units stationed in the region were quickly deployed to pursue the criminals”.Iranian forces launched a major operation in the area after an attack on October 26 killed 10 police officers. Local media reported that those behind the October attack have been killed in the current security operation. Some 15 militants have been reported killed in Sistan-Baluchistan province since the October attack, including three on Sunday, state television said.
North Korean president orders ‘mass production’ of attack drones
North Korean President Kim Jong Un has ordered the “mass production” of attack drones, state media reported on Friday, Nov 22 as concerns mount over the country´s deepening military cooperation with Russia.Pyongyang first unveiled its attack drones in August, with experts saying the capability may be attributable to the country´s budding alliance with Russia.
The nuclear-armed country has ratified a landmark defence pact with Moscow and is accused of deploying thousands of troops to Russia to support its war in Ukraine, prompting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to warn about the potential transfer of sensitive Russian military technology to North Korea.
Kim on Thursday oversaw the tests of drones designed to hit both land and sea targets, produced by North Korea´s Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
“He underscored the need to build a serial production system as early as possible and go into full-scale mass production,” KCNA said.
The unmanned drones are designed to carry explosives and be deliberately crashed into enemy targets, effectively acting as guided missiles.
Thursday´s test saw the drones “precisely” hit targets after flying along predetermined paths, KCNA reported. “The suicide attack drones to be used within different striking ranges are to perform a mission to precisely attack any enemy targets on the ground and in the sea,” the agency said. Kim said the drones were an “easy to use… component of striking power” due to their relatively low production cost and expansive range of applications, according to KCNA.
Zelensky wants to end war by diplomacy next year
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday, Nov 23 that Kyiv would like to end the war with Russia next year through “diplomatic means”, as both countries prepare for Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
February 2025 would mark the third anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with Russia’s troops gaining ground in recent months against Kyiv’s outmanned and outgunned soldiers.
The prospect of Trump returning to power in the United States next year has raised questions about the future of the conflict, as the Republican president-elect has been critical of US military aid to Kyiv.
Meanwhile, North Korea — a key Kremlin ally — has sent thousands of its soldiers to help Moscow repel a Ukrainian offensive ongoing in Russia’s border Kursk region, according to Western officials. Zelensky spoke a day after saying the war will end “sooner” than it otherwise would have done once Trump becomes president.
He also spoke a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first phone call with a major Western leader in nearly two years, speaking to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who initiated the call despite Kyiv’s objections.
“For our part, we must do everything we can to ensure that this war ends next year. We have to end it by diplomatic means,” Zelensky said in an interview with Ukrainian radio. “And this, I think, is very important.”
There have been no meaningful talks between Russia and Ukraine, but Trump’s re-election has plunged the brutal conflict’s future into uncertainty, with the Republican repeatedly promising to cut a quick deal to end the war.
“We have to understand what the Russians want,” Zelensky said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will only accept talks with Ukraine if Kyiv surrenders Ukrainian territory that Moscow occupies. The Kremlin said he repeated that demand in the phone conversation with Scholz on Friday. Zelensky has rejected Putin’s conditions.
Ukraine accused Scholz of an “attempt at appeasement” and said the call would not achieve anything other than minimise Putin’s “isolation”. On Saturday, the G7 — which includes many of Kyiv’s key backers — said Russia remained the sole obstacle to a just peace in Ukraine, pledging sanctions targeting Moscow.
“We will remain united by Ukraine’s side,” the Group of Seven industrialised nations said in a statement marking 1,000 days of the invasion.
Moscow has made steady advances in eastern Ukraine since this summer, inching closer to key hubs such as Pokrovsk and Kurakhove.
Zelensky has said that Russian forces were suffering heavy losses and that the advance had “slowed down” in some areas. Ukraine was “at war with a state that does not value its people, that has a lot of equipment, that does not care how many people die”, he added.
| 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. | ***** |
