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Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir said there was a need for “improved coordination” between Pakistan and Iran against terrorists. He made these comments in a meeting with Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, who is currently in Pakistan on a three-day official visit. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), COAS Munir emphasised the need for improved coordination along the border to prevent terrorists from jeopardising the longstanding brotherly relations between the two neighbouring countries. The statement read that the discussion between the two dignitaries primarily focused on matters of mutual interest, notably regional peace, stability and border security. “Both sides concurred on the necessity to bolster bilateral cooperation while jointly striving for regional stability and economic prosperity,” said the ISPR statement. President Raisi, during the meeting, emphasised that by fostering cooperation between the two armed forces, Islamabad and Tehran can attain peace and stability for both nations and the region. President Raisi’s visit to Pakistan The Iranian head of state arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a three-day official visit, the first by any foreign leader to Pakistan after the February 8 polls. He is being accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation, comprising the foreign minister and other members of the cabinet, senior officials and a large business delegation. Following his arrival at the Prime Minister’s House to meet with PM Shehbaz Sharif on April 22, the Iranian president received a guard of honour from the smartly turned-out contingents of the armed forces. The premier welcomed the high-profile guest as he arrived at the venue of the formal welcome ceremony after which the national anthems of both countries were played. In the second leg of his high-profile visit to Pakistan, Raisi will travel to Lahore. Later, the Iranian leader will travel to Karachi where his meetings are scheduled with Governor Kamran Tessori and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Raisi will also visit Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi and pay his respects to the founder of Pakistan. The foreign leader would stay in Karachi and return to Tehran on Wednesday. The provincial authorities are on high alert due to the high-profile visit and a public holiday has been declared in Karachi and Lahore today.  Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1181415-army-chief-meets-president-raisi-seeks-improved-coordination-with-iran-against-terrorists

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/23/israels-war-on-gaza-live-palestinians-urge-donors-to-resume-unrwa-funding

At least 63 persons were killed and 78 others injured in the recent rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Sunday. “The dead include 33 children, 15 men and 15 women,” the PDMA said in its report, adding, 17 women, 37 men, and 24 children were injured. According to the report, 477 houses were destroyed and 2,725 suffered damage. Various districts, including Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera Khyber, Lower Chitral, Upper Chitral, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Bajaur, Shangla, Mansehra, Mohmand, Malakand, Karak, Tank, Mardan, Buner, Hangu, Battagram, Bannu, North and South Waziristan, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Orakzai suffered financial losses due to rain. On the directive of chief minister, the PDMA released Rs110 million to the administration of affected districts thus far, the report said, adding that Rs90 million were released for relief activities in the newly merged districts. Along with financial support, it added, the PDMA provided relief items to the most-affected districts of Peshawar, Nowshera, Chitral, Swat, Bajaur, Lower Kohistan, Mohmand, Upper Dir, Tank, Shangla and Torghar, etc. The relief items included tents, mats, kitchen sets, blankets, beds, tarpaulins, solar lamps, and other daily life items. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the PDMA said that relief activities were ongoing in the rain-affected districts. He said the PDMA had already cautioned officials of all the districts to take precautionary measures ahead of the third spell of rain which was likely to hit the province. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1181009-death-toll-from-kp-rains-put-at-63

Ukraine launched attacks on eight Russian regions with long-range strike drones in the early hours of Saturday morning, targeting a fuel depot and power substations, according to a statement from a Ukrainian special services source. The overnight attacks, which were confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry, come amid a renewed effort by Moscow to disable Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and plunge its citizens into darkness, using the freezing temperatures as a weapon of war. “Russian Defense Ministry is complaining that dozens of Ukrainian drones popped up in some eight regions – Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Tula, Smolensk, Ryazan, Kaluga regions, and even Moscow region. At least three power substations and a fuel storage facility were damaged and caught fire,” the source said, adding that the attacks were part of a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Defence Intelligence, and the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The source added that the “energy infrastructure that feeds the Russian military-industrial facilities was the target. Some areas experienced troubles with power and water supply following the attacks.” Video shared on social media showed the aftermath of drone strikes on a fuel depot in Russia’s Smolensk region, which caught fire in the early hours of the morning. “At around 2 a.m. this morning, there was an attempted attack by Ukrainian UAVs on a fuel and energy facility in Kardymovsky district. Air defense forces shot down the aerial devices. Information on casualties is being clarified,” Smolensk regional governor Vasiliy Anokhin wrote on Telegram. According to Anokhin, the falling UAV debris caused a fire in a fuel and lubricants tank, and crews with Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations were responding to the blaze. In a separate post, the governor of Smolensk reported that air defenses repelled one more UAV attack on the regional center later Saturday morning. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting one drone over the Smolensk region, and said that its air defense systems intercepted or destroyed 50 Ukrainian drones in the past day. Aleksandr Bogomaz, governor of the southwestern region of Bryansk in Russia, reported on Saturday that “a downed Ukrainian UAV caused a fire at an energy infrastructure facility.” “Fire and rescue units and emergency crews of PJSC Rosseti are operating at the site, ensuring uninterrupted power supply to consumers,” Bogomaz said in a Telegram update on Saturday. Smoke billows after Ukraine’s SBU drone strikes a refinery, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Ryazan, Ryazan Region, Russia, in this screen grab from a video obtained by Reuters, March 13, 2024. Video obtained by Reuters In recent months, Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks deep inside Russian territory, targeting energy infrastructure like oil refineries and terminals, as well as airfields. After strikes on three refineries in mid-March, a Ukrainian defense source told CNN on that Ukraine is “implementing a well-planned strategy to decrease Russian economic potential.” The attacks have been made possible by the use of drones with longer ranges and more advanced capabilities, some of which have even begun to integrate a basic form of artificial intelligence to help them navigate and avoid being jammed, a source close to Ukraine’s drone program told CNN. News of the drone attacks come as the situation on Ukraine’s eastern front has “worsened significantly,” the military’s top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said a few days ago – a message backed up by video evidence, analysts, and interviews conducted by CNN with Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainians were waiting Saturday in anticipation of a highly-anticipated vote in the US House of Representatives that could finally unlock nearly $61 billion of military aid for the country, as frontline troops find themselves withdrawing from key terrain, or getting pounded from the air as they try to hold on to important towns. Of that total, about $23 billion would be used to replenish US weapons, stockpiles and facilities, and more than $11 billion would fund current US military operations in the region. Nearly $14 billion included in the bill would help Ukraine buy advanced weapons systems and other defense equipment. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/20/europe/ukraine-drone-attacks-russia-intl/index.html

 As by-elections are set to take place across 21 constituencies in Pakistan tomorrow, Punjab Saturday requested the federal Interior Ministry to suspend mobile network and internet services in relevant districts and tehsils. The provincial home department has written a letter to the federal ministry in this regard, citing maintenance of law and order situation in Punjab and avoid any untoward incident. The home department, in the letter, requested the suspension as various districts and constituencies will witness the conduct of by-polls more than two months after the February 8 general elections across the country. According to the letter, the request for the suspension of mobile phone and internet service has been made for Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sadiqabad, Kot Chutta, and Dera Ghazi Khan cities. Meanwhile, the tehsils where suspension is requested include Talagang, Chakwal, Kallar Kahar, Gujrat, Ali Pur Chatha, Zafarwal and Bhakkar city. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Punjab chief secretary, inspector general, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman as well as other relevant officials. It is important to note that the mobile internet services were blocked on February 8 as well despite assurances by the government of undisrupted network connectivity during polls. Services were “temporarily” suspended on the day of vote even before the clock struck 8am — the start of voting time. By-elections on 22 NA, provincial seats By-elections will take place across 21 National and provincial assembly constituencies tomorrow. The by-polls will be conducted on at least five National Assembly seats, 12 in the Punjab Assembly, two each in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan legislatures will also witness a by-election. In Punjab, NA-132 (Kasur) and NA-119 (Lahore) — vacated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz — will see candidates up against each other in the by-polls. PM Shehbaz also gave up two of his provincial assembly seats in Lahore, PP-158 and PP-164, retaining his NA-123 seat in the National Assembly. In Sindh, NA-196 (Qamber Shadadkot) will also see a by-poll after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari vacated the seat. In KP, the NA-44 (Dera Ismail Khan) seat was left vacant after provincial Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur retained his provincial assembly seat, PK-113, while by-polls will also be conducted in the NA-8 (Bajaur) constituency, which was left vacant after one of its candidates — Rehan Zeb Khan — was murdered ahead of the February 8 general elections. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1180419-by-polls-punjab-seeks-suspension-of-mobile-internet-services-in-lahore-sheikhupura-other-cities

At least one person has been killed and 20 injured after a blast at a military base in Iraq used by the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), according to security sources. The PMF said “the attack” late on Friday targeted the Kalsu military base, located some 50km (31 miles) south of the capital Baghdad in the province of Babil (Babylon). Videos and images from the scene showed a huge explosion, which also set fire to trees in the surrounding areas, spreading the blaze. Footage from inside the base on Saturday morning showed a large crater and damage to infrastructure and vehicles. In a statement, the PMF claimed “American aggression bombed the Kalso military base”, which is located near the town of Iskandariya. The Iraqi military said on Saturday that there were no drones or fighter jets detected in the airspace of the Babil area before or during the blast. One PMF member was killed and eight injured in the blast, an army statement said. The United States military denied reports that it was behind air strikes in Iraq. The Iraqi government said it was investigating the incident. Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is currently in the US. The bases also houses Iraqi federal police and Iraqi military forces. Reporting from Baghdad, Al Jazeera’s Mahmoud Abdelwahed said the PMF, which is a part of the official security forces of the state of Iraq, described an “indiscriminate” attack. “Injuries included individuals with the PMF, soldiers with the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, as well as civilians who were in the vicinity of the military site when it was attacked,” he said. Abdelwahed added that Camp Kalsu was under the control of US soldiers during the US-led invasion of Iraq, but it was handed over to the Defence Ministry in 2011. It has an ammunition depot and a warehouse for tanks and other weaponry. “All fingers are pointed towards Israel, accusing Israel of carrying out the attack,” he said. There was no comment from the Israeli military. Abu Fadak al-Muhammadawi, the chief of staff of the PMF, inspected the base on Saturday. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, the umbrella group of Iraqi armed forces who are opposed to the US and Israel, said it launched a retaliatory strike in the early hours of Saturday. It released a video that showed a drone being launched at night and claimed it was aimed at a “vital target” in the Israeli port city of Eilat. The group has launched dozens of attacks on US and Israeli interests across the region after the current conflict in Gaza started in October. But it largely halted its assaults since February after three US soldiers were killed in a drone strike on a base near Syria’s border with Jordan. Palestinian armed group Hamas in a statement on Saturday “strongly condemned” what it called an attack on the base and said it “considers it a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty”. Rich Outzen, a fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Al Jazeera that it would be unlikely for the US to have carried out an attack since it has been trying to contain regional tensions between Iran and Israel. “This attack would be more in line with what Israel has done below the threshold of direct attacks on Iran regionally,” he said. The blast comes a day after Iran said it shot down three quadcopters over its skies in the central city of Isfahan near a military base where a number of fighter jets and air defence batteries were situated, with no damage or casualties reported. Israel is believed to be behind the Isfahan operation but has not officially acknowledged it. On April 13, Iran launched hundreds of drones, along with cruise and ballistic missiles, at Israel, most of which were shot down by an air defence coalition of Israel, the US, the United Kingdom, France and Jordan. The Iranian attack was in retaliation for the levelling of Tehran’s consulate building in Syria earlier this month which killed members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two generals. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/20/one-killed-20-wounded-in-blast-at-iran-aligned-groups-base-in-iraq

All five foreign nationals, who were travelling in a vehicle attacked by terrorists in Landhi’s Mansehra Colony, were safe and shifted to an undisclosed location, police officials told Geo News on Friday. DIG East Azfar Mahesar said that the attackers were on foot, as per preliminary investigation. He added that police recovered six hand grenades, an SMG, and three magazines from militants. “The attackers also had two bottles of petrol. All the items were in a bag with the attackers,” said the police official. The DIG said that a vehicle and a motorcycle nearby were damaged in the blast after the terrorist blew himself up. A police mobile was parked at a nearby petrol pump which reached the spot after hearing the explosion, he said, adding that the personnel of the Sharafi Goth police station also confronted the terrorists. The DIG East revealed that the attack was carried out at 6:50 am this morning. The DIG further stated that there was a company vehicle with security guards as well behind the targeted one carrying the employees. He added that the terrorists opened fire on the van, while the security guards behind the van retaliated the attack, shooting dead one of them in the head. “One terrorist was killed in firing by security guards, while the other terrorist approached the van and blew himself up,” he said. The police official said efforts will be made to identify the slain terrorist using his fingerprints. He also revealed that the police were already on alert after having received security threats regarding foreigners in the city. He added that a security plan for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and non-CPEC projects was prepared. Earlier today after the attack, the police said that the vehicle was targeted in a suicide attack but it was thwarted as two terrorists were killed. They added that the terrorists were on a bike when they carried out the attack with the police also finding a bag filled with grenades and Kalashnikov from the crime scene. SSP Malir Tariq Mastoi confirmed that it was a suicide attack. The police official said that another vehicle was also damaged in the explosion. Gunfire sounds were also heard, said the police. As per initial reports shared by the police, the second terrorist killed in the encounter was also a suicide bomber.  “A suicide jacket and a grenade are tied to the terrorist’s body,” they said, adding that a bomb disposal team is reaching the site of the attack. Following the attack, the injured were being shifted to a nearby hospital, they added. Meanwhile, the nationality of the victims has not been ascertained so far. The law enforcement agency also shared that the foreign nationals were working in the export processing zone. A security guard, who was with the nationals and witnessed the incident, told Geo News that they had left Zamzama in two vehicles. He added that a loud explosion was then heard near Mansehra Colony. “After the explosion, a terrorist was firing at the vehicle,” the security guard said. CM Murad seeks report Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has sought a report of the Mansehra Colony blast from Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon. The chief minister directed the police to obtain all the information about who the terrorists were and where they came from as well as probe about their facilitators. He maintained that anti-national elements wanted to disrupt peace and order in the country and lauded the police’s timely action following the attack. ‘Suicide bombers were waiting for vehicle’ Later, speaking to the media at the crime scene, Counter Terrorism Department In-charge Raja Umar Khattab told journalists that the foreigners were travelling in three vehicles. He added that the suicide bombers were waiting nearby and attacked the vehicle when it slowed down due to a speed breaker. “The security guard fired at the attackers and thwarted the attack,” he said, adding that the terrorists arrived on a motorcycle and were chasing the car. They, he added, stepped down from their motorbikes near the scene and approached the vehicle on foot before opening fire at the van. ‘No foreign national injured in attack’ One of the injured in the attack, a 45-year-old security guard Noor Muhammad, succumbed to his injuries during treatment, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s administration told Geo News. The security guard, who was deployed for security of the foreigners in the vehicles, was placed on a ventilator after his condition continued to be critical. Meanwhile, another injured Salman was also shifted to the ventilator. One more injured is also receiving treatment at the hospital, the administration added. The bodies of the suicide bombers have also been shifted to the hospital. Earlier, Jinnah hospital officials told Geo News that three injured were brought to the medical facility out of which two were critically injured. The injured, which included two security guards and a passerby, were identified as Noor Muhammad, Langar Khan and Salman Rafiq. They also confirmed that no foreign national was injured in the accident. Dr Nosheen, Jinnah Hospital’s emergency in-charge, said that at least three injured in the explosion were brought to the emergency room. Speaking with journalists at the hospital, she added that the condition of one injured, 43-year-old named Noor Muhammad, is critical. Dr Nosheen said that the injured person will be transferred to the neurosurgery ward after first aid. “No foreigners are among the injured,” she added. Shahzad Sadiq, the brother of one of the injured people Salman, confirmed his brother’s injury in the blast and the subsequent firing. Speaking with journalists at the Jinnah Hospital, he said that Salman was a firefighter and was going to Port Qasim for his duty. “Salman has been hit by bullets in different parts of the body,” Shahzad said, adding that his brother informed his wife about his injury. Governor Tessori condemns attack Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori condemned the suicide attack in Landhi, directing the CCPO and IG to present a report on the attack. “Terrorism will not be tolerated

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/19/live-israel-launches-missile-attack-in-response-to-iran-assault