Suicide Bombing
At least six people, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, were killed and 15 injured when a suicide blast ripped through the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary in Nowshera District at 2pm on February 28, reports Dawn. The blast tore through the main prayer hall of the madrassah as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers, KP Inspector General Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed said. IGP Zulfiqar said it appeared Haqqani — the seminary head — was the target of the suicide blast. Haqqani, the son of assassinated cleric Maulana Samiul Haq, served as vice chancellor of the Darul Uloom Haqqania and chairman of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Sami (JUI-S) political party. The seminary has faced controversy in the past as its students have been accused of involvement in the murder of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The madrassah has, however, denied having any connection with the suspects.
Two soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into their convoy in the Eidak area of North Waziristan District on March 1, reports Dawn. At least 10 people, including eight soldiers and two civilians, were injured in the attack. The vehicle was completely destroyed in the attack.
Bomb/IED Attacks
At least one person was killed and three others injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off near a medical store in Mamozai area of Orakzai District on February 28. Ten persons, including a Frontier Corps (FC) soldier were injured on February 28 when an explosion occurred on Jan Muhammad Road in Gowalmandi area of Quetta, reports Dawn. Gowalmandi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anwar Ali said that the explosion occurred near an FC convoy, damaging five nearby shops and an FC vehicle and that the explosion was caused by a remote control device.
Three Policemen were injured in a grenade attack on Preedy Police Station in Karachi, on the night of February 28, reports Dawn. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Syed Asad Raza said that unidentified assailants hurled a grenade at the Police Station, injuring three Police personnel, namely Riaz Ahmed (36), Amir Zafar Iqbal (34) and Mohammed Arshad (52).
He added that grenade attacks were either carried out by the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) or Lyari gangs. On March 15, a Police personnel was killed and six others were injured in a roadside remote-controlled explosive device blast near a vehicle of Balochistan’s Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) inKarani Road in Quetta District, reports Dawn.
Targetted Killings
On March 1, unidentified assailants killed two leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), identified as Wadera Ghulam Sarwar and Molvi Amanullah, in the Tarsani area of Zehri in Khuzdar District, reports Dawn. The security guard of one of the leaders also sustained bullet injuries. Levies shifted the bodies and injured to a local hospital as the killers managed to escape. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, which Levies officials described as a target killing. A Police constable, identified as Qurban Ali, was shot dead by terrorists on Raiwand Road area of Lahore on March 2. His motorbike was also taken away. An encrypted channel associated with Hafiz Gul Bahadar Group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility of the attack. A local leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F), identified as Mufti Shahmeer, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Malikabad area of Turbat town in Kech District on March 7, reports ARY News. Unidentified armed motorcyclists opened fire at him as he was leaving the mosque after offering Tarawih prayers. Eyewitnesses reported that the attack appeared to be highly organized, with the assailants lying in ambush
Miscellaneous
Police foiled a midnight terrorist attack on a Police station in Banda Daud Shah area of Karak District on February 25, reports Dawn. An unnamed Police official said that it was a two-pronged attack and the terrorists used light and heavy weapons in a bid to enter the Police Station building. He said the Policemen deployed there retaliated effectively. The Police on February 25 neutralised an indigenously made bomb at Shandi Adda in the limits of Cantonment Police Station in Bannu District, reports Dawn. Police officials said that unknown miscreants had planted a homemade explosive device at Shandi Adda. Police immediately reached the place when local people spotted some suspected material and informed them. Unidentified terrorists had planted the explosive with ball bearings, detonating cord and other equipment in a plastic bucket. Security Forces (SFs) arrested 20 more wanted and suspected individuals during an ongoing operation against militants, ARY News reported on February 25. The operation is being carried out in Ochat, Bagan, Mandori, and surrounding areas of Kurram District.
According to Kohat Regional Police Officer (RPO) Abbas Majeed Marwat, so far, a total of 85 suspects, including 57 wanted criminals, have been taken into custody. The authorities have also recovered 83 machine guns, Kalashnikovs, 12 rifles, and hundreds of bullets. Additionally, stolen goods from four looted trucks, including medicines and other essential items, have been recovered. Security Forces (SFs) on February 28 killed six terrorists in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Ghulam Khan Kalay area of North Waziristan District, reports Dawn. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), SFs conducted the operation in the Ghulam Khan Kalay area on the reported presence of terrorists. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on March 1 announced head money, ranging from PKR three million to 30 million, for 14 terrorists involved in the recent violence in the Kurram District, reports Geo TV. In a statement, the CTD claimed the accused were involved in the assimilation of over 200 people, adding that all the terrorists were associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The CTD also released their pictures and names, saying that a monetary reward would be given to those citizens who provide credible information about the accused. “Terrorists are involved in looting, arson, siege, and killing children and women,” the CTD added. It further said that the accused were involved in sectarian violence in Kurram. The Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) conducted a joint operation in Malir town area of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, and arrested Zubair Ahmed alias Zubair, a high-profile terrorist affiliated with the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) on March 1, reports ARY News. According to Pakistan Rangers spokesperson, the suspect, a resident of Tump area of Kech District in Balochistan, was found in possession of arms and ammunition. The spokesperson stated that Zubair joined the BRA in 2016 and received six months of military training from the Masakar-e-Ghaz camp in Makran of Kech District. He was involved in multiple attacks against Security Forces, including a rocket launcher and heavy arms assault on the Rodban Frontier Corps (FC) check post, resulting in significant human and financial losses. Zubair was reportedly active in Balochistan from 2016 to 2019 and fled to Dubai in 2020 to evade capture. During his time abroad, he continued to operate his network and received funding from the BRA for terrorist activities. Recently, he returned to Karachi from Dubai, where he was planning to reorganize his group and carry out terrorist activities. On March 8, three terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tank District, reports Dawn. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that security personnel conducted an operation after reports of terrorists in the area, “effectively engaged” them, resulting in three being “sent to hell,” and recovered weapons and ammunition, stating they were involved in multiple attacks on security forces and civilians.
Police on March 8 foiled a terrorist attack on the Lakhani border post of Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab near the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, reports ARY News. Around 20 to 25 heavily armed terrorists, equipped with rocket launchers and advanced weaponry, launched the attack. Thermal imaging cameras detected the terrorists in time, allowing Police personnel to retaliate effectively. The attackers were forced to retreat, reportedly suffering heavy casualties.Five terrorists, including two key ‘commanders’, were killed and three other terrorists sustained injuries after Security Forces (SFs) struck two of their hideouts in Haiderkhel and Hormuz villages of Mir Ali tehsil (revenue unit) in North Waziristan District in the night of March 10, reports Dawn. Two separate strikes targeted the hideouts of ‘commander’ Aryana and ‘commander’ Abu Bakr after intelligence reports indicated that important meetings were taking place in Haiderkhel and Hormuz villages. The commanders were said to be experts in making suicide jackets and IEDs. During the strike on the centre in Hormuz, Abu Bakr, his brother and one associate were wounded. A vehicle laden with explosives was also destroyed.
Pakistan
Torkham Border closed for trade
The Torkham border crossing in Khyber District which connects Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, remained closed for trade activities and pedestrian movement for the 10th consecutive day on March 3 as an exchange of fire was reported between Pakistan and Afghan forces following the failure of talks, reports Aaj TV. One local civilian was injured in the incident. A truck driver suffered a heart attack and could not be revived during the ensuing chaos. In light of the escalating tensions, the Torkham transit terminal has been cleared of cargo vehicles. The Torkham crossing point, a crucial land trade route between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has faced repeated closures in recent years due to border tensions, skirmishes, and armed conflicts. Pakistan aimed to install a signboard at the Pakistan Gate while the Afghan side retaliated by proceeding with the security post’s construction. The conflict escalated when Afghan forces attempted to build a checkpoint in a disputed area, prompting Pakistani authorities to halt the work. The incident heightened the tension between the Security Forces of both countries, resulting in the suspension of trade activities.
Pakistan, Afghanistan forces trade fire
At least eight people, including six tro¬ops, sustained minor injuries on March 3-night after Pakistan and Afghan Taliban forces traded fire at the Torkham border crossing in Khyber District, forcing civilians to flee for their lives besides causing one death due to ‘cardiac arrest’, reports Dawn. The firing started around midnight, with both sides initially using light weapons and later resorting to heavy weaponry, which damaged several buildings in the area. A number of official and private buildings were hit by bullets and mortar shells overnight. While the guns fell silent around 11am, the situation remained tense on the border and troops on both sides remained entrenched.
All 16 terrorists killed in SFs clearance operation of Bannu Cantonment suicide attack
All 16 terrorists were eliminated while five soldiers were killed in Security Forces (SFs) clearance operation of Bannu Cantonment suicide attack in Bannu District on March 4, reports Dawn. Earlier it was reported that at least 15 civilians, including four children and two women, were killed and 25 others sustained injuries in explosion during suicide attack. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on March 5 that “troops engaged the intruders with precision, eliminating all 16 terrorists, including four suicide bombers”. “In the intense exchange of fire, five brave soldiers, after putting up a heroic resistance, embraced martyrdom in the line of duty,” the ISPR added. Jaish Al-Fursan, the affiliate of Hafiz Gul Bahadar fraction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility of the attack by publishing the pictures of the four suicide bombers who carried out the attack.
Terrorists continue to operate from Afghan soil against Pakistan, says Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir
The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Syed Asim Munir, who visited aftermath of March 4-Bannu cantonment suicide attack, said on March 6 that terrorists continue to operate from Afghan soil against Pakistan, reports Dawn. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during the visit, the CoAS was briefed on ongoing operations and the overall security situation of the area. He also visited Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Bannu to inquire about the health and well-being of the injured soldiers, acknowledging their resilience and unwavering dedication. The CoAS commended the high morale and steadfast resolve of the troops, reaffirming that Pakistan Army would continue to serve as a bulwark against terrorism to ensure the security and stability of the state.
While addressing the troops, the CoAS lauded their heroic actions, recognizing their swift and decisive response in neutralizing the attackers and thwarting their nefarious designs. He further stated that the fight against Khwarij and their facilitators, acting on the behest of hostile elements, would continue until its logical conclusion. The COAS highlighted that terrorist groups, including Fitna Al-Khawarij, continued to operate from Afghan soil against Pakistan. He underscored that the use of foreign weapons and equipment in recent terrorist attacks was clear evidence that Afghanistan remained a safe haven for such elements.
Terrorism-related deaths in the country surged by 73 per cent in February, says PIPS
The Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based think-tank, released these statistics on March 6 in its “Pakistan Monthly Security Report for February 2025” said that terrorism-related deaths in the country surged by 73 per cent in February, compared to the previous month, with nearly 62 per cent of the total fatalities occurring in Balochistan, highlighting the growing insurgency in the province, Dawn reported on March 7. A total of 121 people were killed and 103 others injured in 54 terrorist attacks recorded across the country during the month. The frequency of high-impact and high-intensity attacks by Baloch insurgent groups has been increasing in Balochistan, as reflected in the rising terrorism-related casualties in the province, the report said. Out of the total 121 casualties recorded during February, as many as 75 occurred in Balochistan. One example is the martyrdom of 18 Army soldiers in a single assault in Kalat.
The total reported fatalities comprised 56 security and law-enforcement personnel, 37 civilians, and 28 militants. Significant casualties resulted from three attacks targeting non-Baloch workers and travellers in Balochistan, with 21 people dead and seven others injured. As many as 30 terrorist attacks took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in February. These attacks claimed 45 lives and injured 58 others. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, Lashkar-i-Islam, the militant Islamic State-Khorasan group and some unknown terrorists perpetrated these attacks in the province.About half of the reported attacks were concentrated in southern KP Districts of Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, and North and South Waziristan.
Fatalities in terrorist incidents in Balochistan saw a significant increase during February. As many as 75 people were killed in 23 attacks reported from the province and another 45 people were injured. Baloch insurgent groups, including the Balochistan Liberation Army, Balochistan Liberation Front and Baloch Republican Guards, perpetrated a combined total of 22 attacks, causing 74 deaths and inflicting injuries on 45 others. One attack was orchestrated by the TTP in Balochistan, which killed one person. No terrorist attack took place in Punjab during the February. One terrorist incident occurred in Karachi. Out of the total 54 attacks reported during February, as many as 32 were carried out by religiously inspired militant groups, mainly the outlawed TTP and its affiliates (30 in KP and one attack each in Sindh and Balochistan), which killed 47 people and injured 58 others.
The data shows that over 68 per cent (37 attacks) of all recorded terrorist attacks in the country specifically targeted security and law-enforcement personnel. During February, Security Forces conducted 20 operational strikes targeting militants, including 19 strikes in various Districts of KP and one in Balochistan’s Harnai District. These kinetic operations resulted in the death of 131 militants while six soldiers were martyred.
TTP becoming umbrella organisation for regional terror groups, Pakistan warns UNSC
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Munir Akram during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on March 11 warned that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is emerging as an umbrella organisation for regional terror groups, reports Dawn. The warning was highlighted by Munir Akram concerning the situation in Afghanistan wherein the envoy accentuated that the greatest threat to security and stability to the region arose from more than 20 terrorist organisations present in the neighbouring country. Akram’s remarks come against the backdrop of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to curb the menace of terrorism as the country, as per a Global Terrorism Index 2025 report, has emerged as the second-most terrorism-affected nation in the world. “With [terrorist] safe havens close to our border, the TTP has conducted numerous attacks against Pakistan’s soldiers, civilians and institutions resulting in hundreds of casualties,” remarked the envoy. “We have evidence that the Kabul authorities have not only tolerated but are complicit in the conduct of the TTP’s terrorist cross-border attacks,” he noted, adding that the TTP was collaborating with other terrorist groups present in Afghanistan, like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade, which seek to destabilise Pakistan and disrupt the country’s economic cooperation with China.
At least 33 terrorists, 21 passengers and four FC personnel killed as Jaffar Express hostage ‘crisis ends’ in Balochistan
The Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed on March 12 that all 33 terrorists involved in the attack on the Jaffar Express were killed, while 21 passengers and four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel lost their lives, reports Dawn. According to DG ISPR, the operation was carried out in phases, with all terrorists eliminated. Speaking to news anchor Kamran Shahid on Dunya News show ‘On the Front’, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif stated that the operation was successful, with no hostages suffering harm, adding that area checks are still ongoing, and the train is being inspected by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS).
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif explained that 21 train passengers were killed by terrorists before the Security Forces’ operation, adding that three FC personnel stationed on a railway picket were martyred, while one FC soldier lost his life during the operation. He said the operation was conducted with extreme precision and caution, with snipers targeting and neutralizing the suicide bombers first. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif provided details that the terrorists had stopped the train in which 440 passengers were aboard near Bolan at around 1 PM on March 11, first they blew up the railway track and then took the passengers hostage. Gen Chaudhry also confirmed that intelligence reports unequivocally confirmed that the attack was orchestrated and directed by terrorist ring leaders operating from Afghanistan, who were in direct communication with the terrorists throughout the incident. He reiterated that Pakistan expects the Interim Afghan Government to uphold its responsibilities and deny use of its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
Afghanistan Internal Dynamics
Two US lawmakers claim USD 40 million per week still reaches Afghanistan, says report
Two US lawmakers, Tim Burchett and Marjorie Taylor Greene, claim that USD 40 million per week is still being sent to Afghanistan, where the Taliban are profiting from the funding, amu.tv reports on February 27. Representative Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, alleged that cash flown into Afghanistan via charter jets is ultimately benefiting the Taliban and Al Qaeda. “Per week, $40 million in taxpayer money is ending up in the hands of the Taliban, and then it’s later being auctioned off,” Burchett said at a press conference. “Cash is flown by charter jets into Afghanistan. It’s auctioned off to the Taliban in order to exchange it for Afghan currency. From there, the Taliban will get it to the NGOs, who have to pay taxes on that money,” he said. Burchett added: “The NGOs have to be approved by the Taliban, and every time the NGOs spend the money, the Taliban take a cut. When the money is exchanged for Afghan currency, the Taliban take a cut. The Taliban also determine who can receive foreign aid. Most of the time, these people are either Taliban or Al Qaeda.”
Afghanistan ranks world’s most authoritarian country in 2024 Democracy Index
Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, has been ranked as the most authoritarian country in the world, according to the 2024 Democracy Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), amu.tv reports on February 28. Scoring just 0.25 out of 10, Afghanistan ranks 167th out of 167 countries, making it the least democratic nation globally for the second consecutive year. The index, which evaluates 167 countries, highlights stark differences between Afghanistan, North Korea, and China, with Afghanistan receiving the lowest possible scores in four out of five key indicators used to measure democracy. The Democracy Index assesses countries based on five main criteria: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, government functioning, political participation, and political culture. According to the report, Afghanistan falls into the “authoritarian regime” category and ranks as the worst among such governments worldwide.
Taliban say Doha Agreement no longer governs their rule, says report
The Taliban no longer consider the 2020 Doha Agreement as guiding their governance, saying it was meant only for a transitional phase, the Taliban’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said on February 28, reports amu. tv. Mujahid accused the US of failing to uphold parts of the agreement, which was signed in February 2020 by Abdul Ghani Baradar, a senior Taliban leader, and Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special envoy for Afghanistan’s peace. The deal facilitated the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan and outlined steps toward a political transition. Among its provisions were intra-Afghan negotiations and the formation of a new government that would include the Taliban, members of the former Afghan administration, and other political factions. However, since seizing full control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have excluded opposition groups from power.
Afghanistan ranks ninth in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index
Afghanistan ranked ninth in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), remaining one of the world’s most terrorism-affected countries, reports amu.tv on March 7. While the drop from sixth place in 2024 suggested a reduced impact of terrorism, the report attributed it partly to the exclusion of Taliban-related violence following their takeover in 2021.
The report said that terrorist attacks surged by nearly 20 per cent, underscoring persistent security threats, particularly from Islamic State- Khorasan Province (IS-KP), which remains the deadliest militant group in the country. IS-KP was responsible for 57 per cent of terrorism-related deaths in Afghanistan, making it the most lethal terrorist group in the country. The deadliest attack in 2024 occurred in Kandahar Province, where an IS-KP suicide bomber targeted a bank branch, killing 21 people. Kabul, which has been the most terrorism-affected Province for 11 consecutive years, recorded 41 attacks resulting in 27 deaths. Despite a 78 per cent increase in the number of attacks, terrorism-related fatalities in Kabul declined by 48 percent.
The report also highlighted worsening relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, exacerbated by Pakistani airstrikes targeting suspected Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts inside Afghan territory.
Bangladesh Internal Dynamics
Rohingya man killed in a gunfight in Cox’s Bazar District
On March 8, a physically challenged Rohingya man identified as Mohammad Rafiq, 33, was killed after being caught in the line of fire during a gunfight between two groups of Rohingyas at a camp for the persecuted Myanmar nationals under Ukhiya Upazila (Sub-District) in Cox’s Bazar District, reports newagebd.net
36 cadres of Hizb ut-Tahrir held
On March 8, chief adviser’s press wing in a statement stated that Police launched a nationwide search for cadres of the banned terrorist outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) after the rally of March 7, leading to the arrest of 36 cadres of HuT since the incident of rally, reports thedailystar.net.
Bangladesh authority orders seizure of former Sheikh Hasina’s properties
On March 11, following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Ghalib issued an order regarding the seizure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s residence in Dhanmondi area of Dhaka, ‘Sudasadhan’, and some other properties owned by her family members, who are in exile in India, reports business-standard.com. Additionally, the court ordered the seizure of 124 bank accounts belonging to Sheikh Hasina’s family. Further, some other properties have been seized, owned by her son Sajib Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, and her daughters, Tulip Siddique and Radwan Mujib Siddique.
ICT issues arrest warrant against five people including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
On March 12, International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued arrest warrants against five people including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed in a case lodged over the genocide that took place in Shapla Chattar area of Dhaka District on 5 May, 2013, reports prothomalo.com.
India Internal Dynamics
Two Maoists killed in encounter with SFs in Chhattisgarh
Two cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), including a woman cadre in uniform, were killed in a gunfight with Security Forces (SFs) in the forested terrain of Gundrajgudem within the Kistaram Police Station limits in Sukma District in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh on March 1, reports The New Indian Express.
Acting on inputs about the presence of Maoists in the forested terrain of Gundrajgudem, a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the elite unit of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) personnel launched a search operation. An encounter ensued and continued intermittently between the forces and the Maoists, and during the search operation in and around the encounter site, two bodies of Maoists, including one of a female, were recovered.
The recovered bodies of the Maoists are yet to be identified. The forces also recovered weapons from the scene of the gun battle. Earlier, SATP had reported that an encounter broke out between SF personnel and the CPI-Maoist in a forested area under Kistaram Police Station limits in Sukma District on March 1.
Three CRPF personnel injured in Maoist IED blast in Jharkhand
Three security personnel, including an Assistant Commandant of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) battalion, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Baliba under Jaraikella Police Station in Chaibasa in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on March 5, reports The Hans India. The explosion occurred during a joint search operation by Security Forces (SFs) and Police in the densely forested and hilly terrain.
SDPI is formed by PFI to pursue all principles of jihad, says ED
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) is an organisation formed by Popular Front of India (PFI) to pursue all principles of jihad, reports The New Indian Express on March 6. In a press release, the ED said a document recovered during the searches at PFI state headquarters in Kozhikode in Kerala, “provides insight into the true objectives of the PFI, describing it as an organisation committed to advancing an Islamic movement in India by endorsing the principles of jihad in all forms.
It positions itself internally as an Islamic movement and externally as a social movement.”ED added that “numerous incriminating documents and digital evidence…that establish that the PFI used to control, fund and supervise the activities of the SDPI.”
ED recovered a document that revealed that the PFI was directing the SDPI in the process of selecting candidates for both the Assembly and Parliament elections. ED further added that PFI’s ‘national executive committee’ ratified the fund collection for the SDPI candidates. ED said that there is evidence to show that PFI gave INR 3.17 crore for SDPI’s election purposes in 2019.
Arms and ammunition recovered in Manipur
Search operations at Heikrumakhong village, Khabeisoi village and Heingang Khong area under Heingang Police Station in Imphal East District of Manipur led to the recovery of ten 9 mm pistols with magazines, 1 .32 pistol with magazine, two 36 Highly Explosive (HE) Hand Grenade with detonator, eleven 7.62 mm AK ammunition,10 5.56 mm INSAS ammunition, 15 5.56 mm Amogh Carbine ammunition, three .32 ammunition, five Smoke Grenade, five Stun Grenade, three Tear Smoke shells, two bullet-proof (BP) Helmet, one INSAS Magazine, one self-loading rifle (SLR) magazine, four empty case of AK 47 Rifle ammunition, three empty cases of INSAS Rifle ammunitions and one empty case of SLR ammunition, reports Manipur Police on X on March 15.
| Monthly Fatalities The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period February 23, 2025 to March 22, 2025: | ||||
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Chhattisgarh | 04 | 00 | 03 | 07 |
| Bihar | 00 | 00 | 02 | 02 |
| Jharkand | 00 | 00 | 02 | 02 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 01 | 00 | 01 | 02 |
| Manipur | 02 | 00 | 01 | 03 |
| Total | 07 | 00 | 09 | 16 |
International
Kurdish militants declare ceasefire with Turkey
Outlawed Kurdish militants on Saturday, March 01 declared a ceasefire with Turkey following a landmark call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan asking the group to disband and end more than four decades of armed struggle. It was the first reaction from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) after Ocalan this week called for the dissolution of the group and asked it to lay down arms.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Turkey would continue military operations against outlawed Kurdish militants unless they kept their pledge to disband. “If the promises given are not kept and an attempt is made to delay… or deceive… we will continue our ongoing operations… until we eliminate the last terrorist,” Erdogan told a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner in Istanbul. In an address to the relatives of people killed or wounded in PKK attacks, Erdogan assured that there was nothing in the initiative “that would disturb the sacred spirits of our martyrs”. He said Turkey would be the winner, as well as “our children, the guarantee of our bright tomorrows”. The Turkish leader warned, however: “We always keep our iron fist ready in case the hand we extend is left hanging in the air or bitten.”
The PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, has waged an insurgency since 1984 to carve out a homeland for Kurds, who account for around 20 percent of Turkey’s 85 million people. But more recently, the group has called for more autonomy, and cultural and linguistic rights, rather than independence.
Turkey’s vice president Cevdet Yilmaz said “a new phase” began toward achieving the goal of a “terror-free Turkey”, without making any mention of the PKK statement.
Paramilitary shelling kills six in Sudan’s North Darfur
Paramilitary artillery shelling of a crowded market and nearby displaced people´s camp in Sudan´s Darfur region killed six people on Sunday, local health volunteers said. The camp, Abu Shouk, is on the edge of the North Darfur state capital, El-Fasher, which paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have besieged since last May as part of the nearly two-year-old war against Sudan´s army. The shelling “resulted in the deaths of six unarmed civilians so far, with other injuries yet to be counted,” said the local Emergency Response Room, one of hundreds of volunteer groups across war-torn Sudan helping to evacuate wounded, staff soup kitchens and maintain health services.
“This attack… struck the crowded market while civilians were shopping for Ramadan necessities,” the committee added, blaming the RSF. The Muslim holy fasting month of Ramazan, which started on Saturday in Sudan, comes as the northeast African country continues to grapple with war, starvation and displacement.
Shelling kills nine in Sudan city retaken by army
Paramilitary shelling on Sunday, March 02 on a strategic city in Sudan´s south, where the army broke a prolonged siege last month, killed nine civilians and injured 21 others, a medical source said.
El-Obeid, the state capital of North Kordofan, came under attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the army since April 2023, said the source at the city´s main hospital and several witnesses.
North Korea to have more nuclear weapons than UK by 2035
North Korea could have more nuclear weapons than the UK by 2035 thanks to technical assistance from Russia, analysts have warned. The country currently has an arsenal of around 50 nuclear warheads but that could surge to 300 within a decade as Russia pays back Kim Jong-un for the troops that Pyongyang sent to fight the war against Ukraine.
North Korea could “very probably” already detonate a nuclear weapon over a US city and its alliance with Moscow means that it is only going to increase its offensive capabilities, according to Ankit Panda, an expert on North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Mr Panda told Radio Free Asia: “The area where I think the Russians can really help them is with guidance computers, cruise missile manoeuvring, cruise missile control and potentially even countermeasures.”
Mr Panda said it is likely that Kim, the North Korean dictator, will continue to modernise and expand his nuclear forces to reach a condition of “mutual vulnerability”, whereby Kim feels sufficiently confident that in a crisis the US and its South Korean ally will not be able to eliminate all his nuclear weapons. To reach that level of stable deterrent, Mr Panda said it will mean an increase from the estimated 50 warheads that Kim presently possesses.
Trump offers nuclear talks with Iran, warns of military action
US President Donald Trump said Friday that he has written to Iran, pressing for talks on preventing the development of nuclear weapons and warning it faces possible military action if not.
Iran’s foreign minister told AFP on Friday, March 07 that the country would not negotiate so long as the United States applies “maximum pressure,” but he was not responding directly to Trump’s letter. Tehran’s mission to the United Nations told AFP that “we have not received such a letter so far.” It was unclear by what means Trump’s missive was transmitted to Tehran. Trump’s outreach marks a departure at least in tone from the hardline stance that marked his first term and could cause a rift with close ally Israel, which last year carried out bombing strikes inside Iran.
Trump said he wrote a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei telling him that a negotiated solution “will be a lot better for Iran.” “I’ve written them a letter, saying I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily it’s going to be a terrible thing for them,” Trump told Fox Business in a clip broadcast Friday. “You can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.”
A landmark 2015 deal negotiated under former president Barack Obama — known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — imposed curbs on Iran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. It fell apart after Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 in his first presidential term and reimposed sweeping sanctions.
Tehran adhered to the deal until a year after Washington pulled out, but then began rolling back its commitments. Trump, who returned to the White House in January, said he was reinstating his “maximum pressure” policy of sanctions against Iran but that he was doing so only reluctantly.
He has since sidelined officials from his first term associated with his Iran policy, as Trump accuses Washington’s foreign policy establishment of encouraging war. Trump’s brash billionaire confidant Elon Musk was reported to have met Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations shortly after the election to deliver a message that Trump wants calm and diplomacy. Iran has been cautious about a return to diplomacy since the collapse of the JCPOA. “We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told AFP on Friday. Speaking on the sidelines of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting in Jeddah, Araghchi also warned that Iran’s nuclear program “cannot be destroyed through military operations.” “This is a technology that we have achieved, and the technology is in the brains and cannot be bombed,” he said.
Araghchi was a key negotiator of the JCPOA, brokered by a then reformist government. But Khamenei, 85, is the ultimate decision-maker in Iran’s clerical system and has pointed to the JCPOA as proof that the United States is not trustworthy. Last month, United Nations atomic agency chief Rafael Grossi said Iran was enriching uranium at 60 percent — “almost weapon level” — and that the 2015 deal was an “empty shell” that was “no longer fit for purpose.”
General among dozens killed in attack on UN helicopter in South Sudan
A South Sudanese general and dozens of soldiers were killed on Friday, March 07 when a United Nations helicopter trying to evacuate them from the northern town of Nasir came under attack, the government said. The United Nations said the incident was “utterly abhorrent” and a possible war crime. The U.N. crew was trying to airlift soldiers following heavy clashes in Nasir.
In a national address announcing the deaths of General Majur Dak and other soldiers, Kiir said Machar had assured him and the U.N. representative that the general would be safe and that the rescue mission should fly to Nasir to evacuate him and his men. Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters that “approximately 27” troops were killed. A U.N. crew member was among the dead.
The U.N. in a statement urged “all actors to refrain from further violence and for the country’s leaders to urgently intervene to resolve tensions through dialogue and ensure that the security situation in Nasir, and more broadly, does not deteriorate”.
11 killed in jihadist revenge attack in Nigeria
Fighters from a new jihadist group torched seven villages in northwest Nigeria over the weekend and killed 11 people in a revenge attack, a police spokesman told AFP on Monday, March 10.
| 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. | ***** |
11 killed in jihadist revenge attack in Nigeria
Fighters from a new jihadist group torched seven villages in northwest Nigeria over the weekend and killed
11 people in a revenge attack, a police spokesman told
AFP on Monday, March 10.
Militants from the Lakurawa group on Sunday attacked Birnin Dede and six villages near the border with Niger, Kebbi state police spokesman Nafiu Abubakar said, to avenge the killing of their commander by security forces in the area. “The Lakurawa terrorists shot dead 11 people and injured two others… (and) set fire to the seven villages,” Abubakar said.
Northwest and central Nigeria have long suffered from “banditry,” where gangs, following economic motives rather than the ideological underpinnings of their jihadist counterparts in the northeast, carry out deadly raids on villages, kidnap residents for ransom and burn homes after looting them.
Iran’s President Pezeshkian rejected US talks under threats
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, March 11 told his US counterpart Donald Trump to “do whatever damn thing” he wants, rejecting negotiations if conducted under orders or threats. “It´s not acceptable for them to say, ´we´re ordering you not to do this, and not to do that, or we´ll do this,´” Pezeshkian said during a meeting with Iranian producers and entrepreneurs.
“I´m not coming to negotiate with you at all. Go and do whatever damn thing you want.” The comments followed Trump saying on Friday that he had written to Iran´s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging Tehran to strike a new deal on its nuclear programme or face potential military action.
Pezeshkian, a reformist elected in July, has advocated reviving a 2015 nuclear accord agreed with world powers, which collapsed after Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the pact in 2018.
However, Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in Iran, said in February that Iran should not negotiate with the US, calling it “unwise” while citing Washington´s withdrawal from the original agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told AFP last week that Tehran “will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats.”
Pezeshkian reiterated on Tuesday that Iran sought global engagement but would not accept humiliation. “We need to have a relationship with the world… but we´re not supposed to bow in humiliation to anyone.”
