Six non-local workers killed in Kech

HANGU: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has announced that he will personally lead Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers during the party’s planned long march to Islamabad on September 27, insisting that the date is final and the movement will continue until its demands are met. Speaking during a visit to Hangu on Saturday, Afridi addressed PTI gatherings at Hangu Bazaar Chowk and Abu Bakr Siddique Chowk as part of preparations for the party’s street movement. PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar Khan, provincial ministers and other party leaders and workers were also present. Afridi called on party supporters to begin full preparations for the march, saying there would be no retreat. He told workers that he would lead them to Islamabad and expressed confidence that the movement would return with success. The chief minister also criticised what he described as the failure to implement a Supreme Court directive concerning PTI founder Imran Khan’s medical treatment. Afridi claimed that a three-member bench had ordered arrangements for Khan’s treatment at Shifa International Hospital, but the directive had not been carried out despite time being granted for implementation. He accused the authorities of applying court orders selectively, alleging that decisions involving PTI and its supporters were enforced quickly while the order concerning Khan’s treatment remained unimplemented. Afridi urged the judiciary to ensure that laws and court decisions were applied equally, arguing that the country could not operate under separate standards for different groups. Turning to the economy, the chief minister claimed that Pakistan’s public debt had climbed to Rs97 trillion while inflation and financial pressures continued to affect ordinary citizens. He also alleged that industrial investment was shifting abroad and that farmers were facing increasing difficulties. Afridi portrayed Imran Khan as a unifying national figure and argued that his return would help rebuild public trust in state institutions and contribute to political stability. He also criticised government policies that he said were contributing to loss of life while benefiting a limited section of society. Appealing particularly to young Pakistanis, Afridi urged them to take an active role in the September 27 movement. He said the youth make up a major share of PTI’s supporters and argued that they should play a decisive role in determining the country’s political future.

  ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has strongly rejected India’s remarks at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and allegations of terrorism, describing them as an attempt to misrepresent facts and divert attention from issues raised by Pakistan. The response came after India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism and suggested that the issue had affected bilateral cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan dismissed these allegations during the UNSC’s High-Level Open Debate on “Natural Resource Governance: The Foundation of Peace, Security and Prosperity.” Speaking in a right of reply, Pakistan’s First Secretary to the UN, Ansar Shah, said India’s statement was misleading and represented a futile effort to distort the facts surrounding the treaty and regional security issues. He maintained that the Indus Waters Treaty remains legally valid and binding, rejecting India’s claim that the agreement could be placed in abeyance through unilateral action. Shah stated that the treaty contains no provision allowing either party to suspend or set it aside on its own. He referred to the Court of Arbitration’s August 2025 award, which, according to Pakistan, reaffirmed that the treaty continues to remain fully in force along with its dispute resolution mechanisms. He argued that India’s unilateral approach violated the terms of the agreement as well as established principles of international law. Pakistan also accused India of using shared water resources as a political tool. Shah said any attempt to weaponise water for political pressure or to restrict water access would amount to a serious breach of international legal obligations and norms. He added that such actions could undermine regional stability and pose risks to international peace and security, making the issue relevant to discussions at the Security Council. Responding to India’s allegations regarding terrorism, Shah rejected the accusations and instead claimed that India was attempting to conceal its own involvement in activities that Pakistan says have contributed to terrorism within its borders. He alleged that militant groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and the Majeed Brigade had been responsible for attacks that claimed the lives of thousands of Pakistani civilians and security personnel, including women and children. Pakistan reiterated its long-standing allegation that India supports and finances these groups, a claim India has consistently denied. Shah also referred to reports of alleged extraterritorial operations involving India, saying such incidents had raised international concerns. He further argued that India could not portray itself solely as a victim of terrorism while ignoring accusations directed against it. Addressing the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said the people of the region continue to be denied their right to self-determination. He maintained that the territory remains internationally recognised as disputed and asserted that no unilateral measures could alter its legal or historical status. He also urged India to fulfil its obligations under the UN Charter and implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Earlier in the debate, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty remains effective and legally binding. He called on the UN Security Council to remain vigilant against the misuse or weaponisation of natural resources and encouraged greater use of preventive diplomacy, peaceful dispute resolution, monitoring mechanisms, and other international measures to prevent disputes over shared resources from escalating into broader conflicts.

Pakistan security forces have foiled a suicide attack on a checkpost in South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing four terrorists, including the suicide bomber, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, terrorists attempted to attack a security forces checkpost by driving an explosives-filled vehicle toward the installation. However, the attack was stopped due to the quick and effective response of security personnel. The ISPR said that the explosives-laden vehicle was engaged and destroyed before it could reach the checkpost, killing the suicide bomber inside. The failed attack caused no damage to the security installation and no casualties were reported among security forces. Following the initial attack attempt, troops engaged other militants who tried to enter the area. According to the statement, three terrorists were forced into a nearby compound and were later killed during a targeted clearance operation carried out by security forces. The military said a sanitisation operation was also launched in the surrounding area to search for any remaining militants and ensure the security of the region. The ISPR reiterated that counter-terrorism operations under the “Azm-i-Istehkam” initiative will continue with full commitment to eliminate terrorism and prevent attacks against the country. The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security forces and law enforcement agencies to tackle militant threats. The incident comes a day after a terrorist attack on a joint police checkpost in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including security personnel. Officials said the attack highlighted the continuing security challenges faced by the province. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed an increase in militant activities over the past year, with security forces conducting frequent operations against armed groups operating in the region. Security officials have stated that intelligence-based operations and targeted actions will continue to counter militant networks and protect civilians and security personnel. The latest operation in South Waziristan reflects the ongoing security efforts aimed at preventing attacks and maintaining stability in areas affected by terrorism.