News

Convoy, originally scheduled to deliver goods on January 4, remains stranded in Tal for fourth day Fragile peace in Kurram has stalled the aid convoy’s departure, leaving Parachinar residents in desperate need as tensions remain high after last week’s gun attack on the deputy commissioner. The convoy, originally scheduled to deliver goods on January 4, has been stranded in Tal for the fourth day as the Tal-Parachinar Road remains closed for transit today (Tuesday) as well. There are concerns that vegetables, fruits, and other food items may perish. According to the administration, if the convoy proceeds, the curfew will be imposed from Chapri Check Post to Tari Mangal. To ensure the safe passage of the convoy, authorities had announced a curfew along the main highway during its transit while Section 144 was also imposed in the district following the attack. Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government temporarily suspended aid to the victims of violence in Kurram after the attack that left Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud and six others injured. Sources told Geo News that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had ordered financial assistance for those affected by the violence in the restive Kurram tribal district. Following his instructions, a 90% survey of households and shops in Bagan was completed to ensure compensation for the affected people. But the government took strong notice of the armed attack on the official vehicle. When contacted, Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif confirmed the development but said that financial aid would be halted for communities found not cooperating with the government. In a meeting in Kohat on Sunday, the government had demanded the tribal elders hand over the perpetrators of the attack or else the monetary aid will be suspended. Aid convoy to proceed only after security clearance Despite the delay in the departure of aid convoy, Barrister Saif continued to downplay the gravity of the situation created by the attack on Kurram DC. Speaking in Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ on Monday night, Saif said that the incident had certainly caused some unpleasantness but it was unlikely to affect the peace process. He said that the first information report (FIR) into the matter had been lodged and identification of the assailants was underway. “The tribal elders have been asked to handover the assailants to us as per the peace agreement. Both parties of the conflict have condemned the incident and assured the administration of cooperation,” Barrister Saif said. He added that the aid convoy will be allowed to proceed in a day or two after the security clearance. Arrests Meanwhile, as the law enforcement agencies personnel continued crackdown on suspects involved in an attack on Mehsud, one more suspected assailant was apprehended, bringing the total number of arrests to three out of the five named in the FIR. Officials said that efforts were underway to locate the remaining suspects and other unidentified attackers. Apart from that, authorities in the restive Kurram district arrested three tribal elders namely Syed Rahman, Saifullah and Karim Khan for their refusal to sign the recently brokered peace agreement. The district administration said the peace agreement, approved by the KP apex committee and the government, must be implemented at all costs to ensure stability in the region. In a related development, a new case was registered against 200 protesters who staged a sit-in outside Parachinar Press Club for allegedly blocking the main highway and violating Section 144. The administration said that the restoration of transportation routes remained a top priority and warned against any actions that disrupted public movement. It reiterated its commitment to ensuring peace and holding those responsible for violence accountable through thorough investigations and strict enforcement of the law. The Kurram region has been wracked by tribal violence for decades, but around 140 people have been killed since a fresh bout of fighting broke out in November. As feuding tribes have battled with machine guns and heavy weapons, the remote and mountainous region bordering Afghanistan has been largely cut off from the outside world. The months-long blockade of roads has left residents of Parachinar and surrounding areas in dire need of essential supplies. After a truce was called on January 1, the convoy was attacked as it travelled to collect the first aid delivery of food and medicine sent by road since November, officials said. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1269538-aid-convoy-hold-up-leaves-kurram-waiting-for-relief

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/7/live-israel-kills-22-in-gaza-launches-manhunt-in-west-bank-after-shooting

Here are the key developments on the 1,047th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here is the situation on Monday, January 6: Fighting Politics and diplomacy Advertisement Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/6/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1047

German official’s body recovered after missing work for two days, say police Thomas Fielder, the Second Secretary at the German Embassy in Islamabad, was found dead in his apartment within the Diplomatic Enclave.  According to police officials, Fielder’s body was recovered after German Embassy staff, concerned over his absence from work for two days, broke into his apartment and found him unresponsive. The embassy immediately alerted the local authorities, who transported the body to the hospital for a post-mortem examination. Police said that the cause of death remains undetermined and will be ascertained following the autopsy report. Initial investigations revealed that the diplomat had previously suffered a minor heart attack, which could potentially be a contributing factor. The German Embassy has been informed of the incident, and further investigations are underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the diplomat’s death, they said. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1269226-german-embassy-official-found-dead-in-islamabad

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/6/live-israel-pounds-gaza-as-ceasefire-talks-with-hamas-gains-momentum

At least 27 people have died after two boats carrying migrants sunk off the coast of Tunisia on Wednesday, according to state broadcaster Tunisia TV. The vessels were carrying Africans from sub-Saharan countries, Tunisia TV reported. Some 83 people were rescued three miles off Alataya in Tunisia’s Kerkennah Islands, where the boats sank, it said. The Red Cross told CNN Thursday that there have been at least four shipwrecks in the area in the last week, claiming 84 lives in total. Of these disasters, three boats set off from Tunisia and one departed from Libya, it said. This comes after UNICEF announced on Wednesday that more than 2,200 people died in the Mediterranean during 2024. This figure includes “hundreds of children, who make up one in five of all people migrating through the Mediterranean,” the UNICEF statement said. The majority of these children are fleeing violent conflict and poverty, it added. Just hours before midnight on New Year’s Eve, a boat sank off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy, UNICEF said, leaving more than 20 people missing, including women and children. Among the seven survivors is an 8-year-old child whose mother is unaccounted for, it said. Related articleGirl, 11, survives migrant shipwreck by clinging to tire tubes for 3 days Lampedusa is an Italian island in the Mediterranean, far closer to Tunisia’s coast than either mainland Italy or the island of Sicily. Many in Northern Africa aiming to reach Europe travel to Lampedusa, as it requires a shorter journey than reaching the mainland continent. In total, at least 31,184 migrants have either died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which last updated its figures on December 31, 2024. Most of these incidents took place on the Central Mediterranean route, where migrants attempted to cross from North Africa to Italy or Malta, the IOM said. A total of 66,317 migrants landed in Italy in 2024, the Italian government said on Thursday, down from 157,651 in 2023 and 105,131 in 2022. Most of these migrants were reported to be from Bangladesh, Syria or Tunisia, the report said. Despite this, deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean over the last few years have stayed roughly consistent, according to the IOM. Some 3,155 people died or went missing in 2023, the IOM said, with the same happening to 2,411 people in 2022. ‘Europe’s borders continue to kill’ The support service Alarm Phone told CNN on Thursday that “over the last days and weeks, many deadly incidents occurred along the migration routes in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.” “While people in Europe and elsewhere enjoy the holiday season and end-of-year festivities, Europe’s borders continue to kill. We mourn all those who lost their lives and stand in solidarity with their loved ones,” a spokesperson for the organization said in a statement. Separately, UNICEF called on governments to prioritize safeguarding children, including through “coordinated search and rescue operations, safe disembarkation, community-based reception, and access to asylum services.” “Governments must address the root causes of migration and support the integration of families into host communities, ensuring children’s rights are protected at every stage of their journey,” it said. Italy’s hard-right administration is trying out a number of ways to reduce the amount of migrants seeking refuge at its shores. In October, 16 migrants that traveled to Italy were sent to centers in Albania for processing. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) called the opening of the centers a “dark day for the EU’s asylum and migration policies” and said it hoped that the Albanian protocol would not be a blueprint for others. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/02/world/tunisia-migrants-shipwrecks-death-intl/index.html

Javedullah Mehsud, who played important part to restore peace in district, shifted to hospital Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud was shot and injured in a fresh incident of firing as violence broke out in the Bagan area despite the deal to restore peace in the crisis-hit region.  The deputy commissioner, who had been playing a key role in efforts to restore peace in the region, was rushed to hospital. The incident comes as the authorities geared up for sending an aid convoy to Parachinar following the signing of peace accord on January 1, which saw the groups involved in the conflict agree to end violence and surrender arms to the authorities. The first convoy carrying essential items was set to pass through the Tal-Parachinar road today as the key thoroughfare reopened after three months, marking a significant milestone in restoring connectivity to the crisis-hit region. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry had said that the peace committees were responsible for ensuring the protection of the convoy and adherence to the agreements in place. These committees, comprising local residents, tribal elders, and political leaders representing all sects and communities, are tasked with maintaining harmony in the area, he had said. Government sources revealed that local residents have pledged to surrender their weapons to the state within 15 days, as part of a phased process, while the dismantling of local bunkers is expected to be completed within a month. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1268543-kurram-dc-injured-in-latest-gunfire-incident-despite-peace-deal

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/1/4/live-israels-bombing-carnage-escalates-as-gaza-ceasefire-talks-resume

Here is the situation on Friday, January 3: Fighting Politics Economy Regional tension Finland’s national power grid operator said it had asked a Helsinki court to seize the Eagle S oil tanker in a bid to secure the company’s claim for damages related to the severing of the undersea Estlink 2 electricity interconnector. The cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged on December 25 along with four telecoms lines.Here are the key developments on the 1,044th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Angered by Ukraine’s stoppage of Russian gas, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he would consider the possibility of reducing support for Ukrainians in Slovakia and repeated the threat of stopping electricity deliveries to its larger neighbour. The Lithuanian government said that the recent failure of the Estlink 2 undersea cable, which has been blamed on a Russian vessel, does not affect the planned synchronisation of the Baltic states’ electricity grid with Western Europe. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/3/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1044

New members replaced Japan, Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland whose terms ended on December 31, 2024 Pakistan’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has reaffirmed that the country’s stance on Kashmir is based on UN resolutions, while stressing the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan as vital for ensuring regional harmony. Earlier today, envoy Iftikhar installed the national flag in front of the UN Security Council chamber on Thursday, as Pakistan began its eighth term for two years (2025-26) as a non-permanent member of the 15-member body. As part of the joining ceremony, flags of the five new incoming non-permanent members — Pakistan, along with Denmark, Greece, Panama and Somalia — were installed at the UNSC’s stakeout at UN Headquarters in New York. The new members replaced Japan, Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland whose terms ended on December 31, 2024. In his brief remarks, he said that Pakistan will continue to be guided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter including maintenance of international peace and security and the development of friendly relations among nations based on the principle of equal rights and self-determination. “Pakistan will always remain a strong voice for peoples under foreign occupation and oppression and for the realisation of their right to self-determination,” Ambassador Ahmad said. Pakistan, he said, was convinced that cooperative multilateralism – with the UN at its core – was the best way of tackling today’s multifaceted challenges. “We need to earnestly address the root causes of long-standing and new conflicts, prioritise dialogue and diplomacy, and support confidence building at regional and global levels – to reduce tensions, arrest the arms race, and enable an environment conducive to peace, stability and development,” the Pakistani envoy said. Pakistan, he said, will partner with fellow members to actively pursue just and peaceful solutions to the issues on the Council’s agenda, and strive to make optimal use of the tools at our disposal – from conflict prevention to peacekeeping to peacebuilding – to achieve durable peace. “Our success lies in upholding the UN Charter and international law under all circumstances, and in ensuring the effective implementation of the Security Council’s own decisions,” Ambassador Ahmad said. “Never forgetting our solemn duty towards the millions of men, women and children suffering in conflicts, Pakistan is assuming this responsibility, fully resolved to our collective endeavour for a more peaceful and secure world.” Pakistan will preside over the 15-member Council in July when it assumes its presidency according to the alphabetical rotation of the member states’ official names. This will allow Islamabad to set the Security Council’s agenda. In addition to this, Pakistan will get a seat on the Islamic State (ISIS) and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee, which is responsible for designating individuals and groups as terrorists and imposing sanctions. The Security Council has 15 members, five of which – Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States – are permanent ones. The 10 non-permanent seats of the Council are allocated by geographic region, with five replaced each year. The Security Council is considered to be the most powerful body of the United Nations. The council, which is tasked to maintain international peace and security, can make legally binding decisions and has the power to impose sanctions and authorise the use of force against states. The tradition of the flag installation ceremony was introduced by Kazakhstan in 2018. Kazakhstan’s permanent representative, Kairat Umarov, who presided over the ceremony, voiced confidence that the five new council members will bring much depth and focus to the pressing issues of global peace and security. “As we begin a new year, it is clear that the global situation continues to be marked by numerous challenges and crisis, from ongoing conflicts and humanitarian calamities to the negative impacts of climate change and the pandemic.” Speaking to Geo News later, Iftikhar said: “The overall security situation in Pakistan has significantly improved.” He also highlighted the country’s positive economic indicators, underscoring the incumbent government’s commitment to progress and stability. “We have undertaken substantial efforts to combat terrorism,” he noted, acknowledging that the menace of terrorism has resurged in the country recently. Addressing the Afghanistan issue, the envoy affirmed that the issue remains a key item on the UN Security Council’s permanent agenda. “We continue discussions on Afghanistan at the multilateral and bilateral levels,” he remarked, adding, “Our position is crystal clear—we want a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, as regional peace is directly tied to stability there.” He highlighted that Pakistan is a strong country, and our nation stands united, expressing confidence that the government and people remain steadfast in their mission to eliminate terrorism. Reflecting on his role at the UN, he remarked, “It is a great honour to represent Pakistan, and our experienced team will meet the expectations of the government and the nation.” Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1268074-pakistan-begins-two-year-unsc-term-reaffirms-commitment-to-kashmir-afghanistan