200 Shiites Gather Outside Iranian Embassy in Bangkok, Urge Government to Stay Neutral

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established a dedicated unit to investigate criminals operating through the dark web. The move is aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s ability to deal with hidden online criminal networks. The new unit has been set up at the FIA’s National Command and Control Centre (NC3) in Islamabad. It will use advanced technology and digital investigation techniques to identify suspects who use encrypted platforms to conceal their identities. FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar said the unit would focus on criminal networks involved in activities that fall under the agency’s jurisdiction. Investigators will also examine suspicious digital transactions, including those involving cryptocurrencies. A major focus will be networks involved in producing fake documents. Such documents can be used to facilitate human trafficking and illegal migrant smuggling. The unit will also investigate other forms of cyber-enabled crime linked to the dark web. The dark web is a hidden part of the internet. Its websites are not normally indexed by standard search engines. Access often requires specialised software and knowledge. Criminals can use these systems to hide their identities and locations. The technology has also been misused for illegal trade, cybercrime and other criminal activities. Authorities face additional challenges because many dark web networks operate across national borders. Criminals can also use cryptocurrency to make financial transactions more difficult to trace. The FIA plans to address these challenges through modern digital investigation tools and greater coordination between specialised teams. The new unit will work closely with the FIA’s cryptocurrency investigation unit. Both units will operate under the same facility and share technical expertise. Investigators will use blockchain forensic techniques to examine cryptocurrency transactions. These techniques can help authorities analyse transactions and potentially connect anonymous or pseudonymous digital addresses with real-world identities. Open-source intelligence will also be used to support investigations. Officials said digital evidence gathered from different sources could help strengthen criminal cases. Investigators will track aliases, usernames and pseudonyms used by suspected criminals across online marketplaces, forums and other hidden platforms. The information will be used to build detailed profiles of suspected offenders. Authorities can then use the evidence to identify suspects and pursue legal action. NC3 Director Dr Athar Waheed explained the basic structure of the internet. He said it is commonly divided into three broad layers: the surface web, deep web and dark web. The surface web includes websites that can be found through regular search engines. News websites, social media platforms, blogs and online shopping sites are examples. The deep web contains online material that search engines do not index. This includes private databases, email accounts, banking systems, academic resources and internal organisational networks. Much of the deep web is legitimate. Users normally need passwords, subscriptions or specific permissions to access such content. The dark web is a smaller and deliberately hidden section of the deep web. It uses technologies designed to provide greater anonymity. Tor is one of the technologies commonly associated with accessing dark web services. It routes internet traffic through multiple volunteer-operated relays, making it more difficult to identify the original source. The FIA’s new unit will seek to overcome these anonymity measures through digital forensics, intelligence gathering and technological investigation.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day brought messages of goodwill from two major international partners, with the United States and Russia extending warm greetings to the Pakistani people and expressing hopes for continued peace, prosperity and stronger bilateral ties. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker and the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan conveyed their Independence Day wishes to Pakistanis on Friday, marking the country’s 79th year as an independent nation. In its message, the US Embassy recalled the long history of relations between the two countries, noting that the United States was among the early countries to recognise Pakistan after its creation in 1947. The embassy said that Pakistan-US friendship had grown stronger over the decades, highlighting the enduring ties between the two countries and their peoples. “Over the past 80 years, the friendship between Pakistan and the United States has grown stronger,” the message said, while extending wishes for peace, happiness and prosperity to the people of Pakistan. The greeting comes as Islamabad and Washington continue to maintain engagement across several areas, including trade, investment, security, education and people-to-people ties. Russia highlights Pakistani resilience Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan also extended Independence Day greetings, describing the occasion as a reflection of the courage, determination and strong national spirit of the Pakistani people. In his message, the Russian envoy praised the resilience demonstrated by Pakistanis and expressed confidence that cooperation between Moscow and Islamabad could continue to expand. The ambassador said both countries would work together to strengthen mutual understanding and broaden their partnership in areas of shared interest. The message underscored Moscow’s interest in developing closer relations with Islamabad at a time when Pakistan is seeking to expand its diplomatic and economic partnerships. Messages arrive amid wider diplomatic engagement The messages from Washington and Moscow came as Pakistan marked Independence Day with nationwide celebrations, flag-raising ceremonies and tributes to the country’s founding leaders and those who sacrificed for independence. For Pakistan, such diplomatic messages carry significance beyond traditional greetings. They reflect the country’s longstanding relationships with major global powers and its continuing efforts to maintain engagement with partners across different regions. As Pakistan entered its 80th year since independence, the messages from the United States and Russia shared a common theme: a desire for peace, prosperity and stronger cooperation. While the two countries have different strategic relationships with Islamabad, their Independence Day messages highlighted the importance of continued engagement and mutual understanding. For Pakistanis celebrating the day, the greetings added an international dimension to the occasion, with both Washington and Moscow signalling their desire to see Pakistan move forward with stability, prosperity and deeper partnerships.