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Pakistan
Statement:2015
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Date
Incidents
January - 1 
Awami National Party (ANP) Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain on January 1 declared Punjab a training centre for terrorists and their masterminds and demanded that the Government begin a decisive action against terrorist outfits in the province, reports Dawn. He was speaking at the &lsq
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Awami National Party (ANP) Central General Secretary Mian Iftikhar Hussain on January 1 declared Punjab a training centre for terrorists and their masterminds and demanded that the Government begin a decisive action against terrorist outfits in the province, reports Dawn. He was speaking at the ‘Shuhada Amn Qaumi Conference’ here at Nishtar Hall in Peshawar. Mian Iftikhar told participants that terrorism could not be eliminated from the country until an operation began against terrorist organisations in Punjab. Mian Iftikhar demands ‘decisive action’ against terrorist outfits in the provinceHe said there should be no distinction between good Taliban and bad Taliban and that state institutions should take an across-the-board action against terrorists.
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January - 1 
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said on January 1 that the entire national political class and military is united in the war against terrorism and extremism, and will achieve success by taking effective measures at the right time, reports Daily Times. The political leadership and military command o
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Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said on January 1 that the entire national political class and military is united in the war against terrorism and extremism, and will achieve success by taking effective measures at the right time, reports Daily Times. The political leadership and military command once again came together for the speedy implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) for the eradication of terrorism.Further, PM said nobody could remain neutral in the war against terrorism and the NAP will eliminate terrorists for all times. Nawaz said the hideouts of hardcore terrorists would be completely smashed and they would be chased with courage and determination and eliminated while civilians would be protected by every means.
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January - 1 
The Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), General Raheel Sharif, on January 1 said the political consensus against terrorism should not be lost to petty differences, reports The News. He said the entire nation was looking towards the political and military leadership of the country to take bold and meanin
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The Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), General Raheel Sharif, on January 1 said the political consensus against terrorism should not be lost to petty differences, reports The News. He said the entire nation was looking towards the political and military leadership of the country to take bold and meaningful decisions leading to stern action against the terrorists and their sympathisers. He was addressing the 178th Corps Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters. The CoAS appreciated the resolve of the national political leadership shown during the All Parties Conference (APC), says a press statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The participants of the conference expressed grief over the tragic loss of innocent lives in Peshawar terrorist attack, solidarity with the bereaved families and expressed the resolve not to stop the operations till the elimination of the last terrorist from the country.
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January - 3 
Expressing confidence that Pakistan is capable of replying to any aggression,Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif on January 3 said that India wants to engage Pakistan in a “low-intensity war”, reports Dawn. “It seems that India does not understand the language of love and peace,
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Expressing confidence that Pakistan is capable of replying to any aggression,Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif on January 3 said that India wants to engage Pakistan in a “low-intensity war”, reports Dawn. “It seems that India does not understand the language of love and peace,” the Defence Minister said outside the Parliament House after conclusion of the National Assembly session.He said that the Prime Minister had expressed the desire for having peace with India and all other neighbouring countries with sincerity, but India had not reciprocated Islamabad’s goodwill gesture. “India wants to keep us busy in a low-intensity war or low-intensity engagement on our eastern border. They are pursuing the same tactics of keeping our forces busy on all fronts and the anti-Pakistan mentality of the Indian leadership is now fully exposed,” he added.
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January - 3 
The Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on January 3 that action had been launched against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), its supporters and sympathisers,reports Dawn. Speaking at a press conference, he said it had been decided in the National Action Plan (NAP) that TTP
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The Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on January 3 that action had been launched against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), its supporters and sympathisers,reports Dawn. Speaking at a press conference, he said it had been decided in the National Action Plan (NAP) that TTP operatives, their supporters, masterminds and financiers would be identified across the country. The Federal intelligence agencies would cooperate with provinces to accomplish the task, he added.Chaudhry Nisar said there were around 60 banned outfits, but all were not involved in terrorism. Some were operating under new names and some quietly operating with the same old names, he added. The minister said funds of banned organisations would be blocked and legal action would be initiated against them. If they remain adamant, their cases would also be referred to military courts. He said the banned outfits would not be allowed to collect donations and sacrificial hides and their bank accounts would be seized. They would also not be allowed to use social media for anti-state propaganda, he added.
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January - 5 
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on January 5 said that eight militants, including a 'commander' of a banned outfit, were killed and 15 others were detained while two camps were busted in week-long operations launched in Panjgur and Kalat Districts of the province, reported The N
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Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on January 5 said that eight militants, including a 'commander' of a banned outfit, were killed and 15 others were detained while two camps were busted in week-long operations launched in Panjgur and Kalat Districts of the province, reported The News. Search is also in progress in Zhob and its adjoining areas to trace nine people who were kidnapped by unidentified armed assailants in Zhob District. “There is zero-tolerance towards terrorism, and stern action would be taken against all R&AW and National Directorate of Security (NDS) funded armed Lashkars,” said Mir Sarfaraz Bugti.
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January - 5 
The senators belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the ANP on January 5 demanded a military operation against terrorists in Karachi, reported Dawn. The demand came when ANP’s Shahi Syed drew the Senate’s attention to what he called the continued targeted killing of his part
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The senators belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the ANP on January 5 demanded a military operation against terrorists in Karachi, reported Dawn. The demand came when ANP’s Shahi Syed drew the Senate’s attention to what he called the continued targeted killing of his party’s workers as well as Pakhtuns in the city. Supporting the ANP’s call for the military action, Nasreen Jalil of the MQM said it was her party which had been demanding an army operation against terrorists in Karachi where Taliban were strengthening their presence. The senator said she had even written a letter to the prime minister on the issue. She said that not only the Pakhtuns, but the Sindhis and Urduspeaking people were also being targeted by terrorists, adding that issues being faced by the ANP and her party were not different from each other.
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January - 6 
Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that around 605 students were studying in the Islamabad’s unregistered seminaries. The 27 madaris belong to the Deobandi school of thought, two to Barelvi school of thought and one is managed by the Ahle Hadith, he said. Seminaries, who
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Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that around 605 students were studying in the Islamabad’s unregistered seminaries. The 27 madaris belong to the Deobandi school of thought, two to Barelvi school of thought and one is managed by the Ahle Hadith, he said. Seminaries, whose curriculum is provided by Waqaful Madaris, are registered with Islamabad Auqaf Department.Further, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in a written reply to a question asked by Pakistan People’s Party’s Sughra Imam in the Senate on January 6 that “Some madrassah are receiving financial support from Muslim countries. However, it is often difficult to trace the transaction of such money”, reports Dawn.
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January - 6 
The Senate on January 6 approved the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2015 as well as the 21st Constitutional Amendment, reportsThe News. The National Assembly had passed both the bills unopposed as 247 members voted in favour of the laws which would provide constitutional cover to special courts for
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The Senate on January 6 approved the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill 2015 as well as the 21st Constitutional Amendment, reportsThe News. The National Assembly had passed both the bills unopposed as 247 members voted in favour of the laws which would provide constitutional cover to special courts for the trial of terrorism suspects. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a speech at the start of the Senate session thanked the Leader of Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan as well as all political parties and their leaders who were present in Senate as well as the National Assembly session in the morning. The PM congratulated all members of parliament who voted in favour of both the bills in NA and passed it unanimously.
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January - 9 
The Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rasheed on January 9 called for greater mobilisation among the countrymen to flush menace of terrorism and extremism from Pakistan, reports Daily Times. A seminar organised by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA)
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The Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rasheed on January 9 called for greater mobilisation among the countrymen to flush menace of terrorism and extremism from Pakistan, reports Daily Times. A seminar organised by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) entitled “will Pakistan change”, saw the participation of Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid as the chief guest and other lawmakers including Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Hasil Bazinjo and members of civil society. The seminar stressed the need to draw lessons from Peshawar tragedy and create national unity against all forms of the terrorism.
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January - 10 
The Pentagon said on January 10 that the “sanctuary” that some of the militant groups enjoy in Pakistan has long been an issue of concern, reports Daily Times. Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said that it was for Pakistan to continue the fight against terrorism in its own interest,
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The Pentagon said on January 10 that the “sanctuary” that some of the militant groups enjoy in Pakistan has long been an issue of concern, reports Daily Times. Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said that it was for Pakistan to continue the fight against terrorism in its own interest, and noted that like the Paris victims, Pakistanis have been victims of terror. “It’s not about us putting pressure on the Pakistani government. It’s about the Pakistani government continuing to address this threat in keeping with their best interests and the interests of their people,” Kirby replied, when a journalist suggested that Washington pressurise Pakistan into doing more.
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January - 12 
Building on recent accusatory statements by Government representatives, Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on January 12 claimed that India was helping terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out "heinous acts", reports Dawn. In an interview on Dawn’s programme News Eye, the Minister alleged that I
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Building on recent accusatory statements by Government representatives, Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on January 12 claimed that India was helping terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out "heinous acts", reports Dawn. In an interview on Dawn’s programme News Eye, the Minister alleged that India "has designs on Pakistan". “The Taliban have links with India. Also, India’s involvement in the insurgency in Balochistan cannot be ignored,” he said. When asked to provide evidence for his claim, the Minister dodged the question and proceeded to claim that a low intensity war was underway. He stated that his allegations were based as much on conviction as on experience.
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January - 14 
The Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on January 14 that the number of proscribed organisations actively engaged in terrorism and extremism in Punjab alone had reached 95, reports Dawn. During the briefing on the status of implementation of the National Action Plan to counter
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The Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on January 14 that the number of proscribed organisations actively engaged in terrorism and extremism in Punjab alone had reached 95, reports Dawn. During the briefing on the status of implementation of the National Action Plan to counter terrorism and extremism, Chaudhry Nisar said that law-enforcement agencies were proactively monitoring madrassah to check the spread of terrorist ideology in the country. While an official statement released after the meeting did not include the names of the banned organisations in question, the new number was substantially greater than the total number of organisations listed as banned in the national security policy document the Government put out in early 2014.
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January - 15 
Chief of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Sardar Akhtar Mengal on January 15 said that extremism was being promoted in Baloch society to weaken Baloch nationalists, reported Dawn. "Extremists are penetrating in a tolerant Baloch society," Mengal said. He said new shadowy extremist organisa
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Chief of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Sardar Akhtar Mengal on January 15 said that extremism was being promoted in Baloch society to weaken Baloch nationalists, reported Dawn. "Extremists are penetrating in a tolerant Baloch society," Mengal said. He said new shadowy extremist organisations were surfacing in the Province to undermine the Baloch political and democratic movement. He rejected claims of the nationalists-led Government that the law and order situation has improved in Balochistan. Mengal stated that in the Chief Minister's own constituency, mutilated bodies were being found. The former Chief Minister lamented that 'mass graves' were still being recovered in Balochistan. He stated that the trust deficit between the Government and political forces needs to be bridged to make dialogue a success. Mengal lashed out at both Baloch and Pashtoon nationalist parties running the Government in Balochistan. "They made compromises and forgot the masses," he added.
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January - 15 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) country representative, Maya Ameratunga on January 15 said that her organisation would not support Afghan refugees found involved in terror activities in Pakistan, reports Dawn. She said that the UN Refugee Agency was aware of security challe
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) country representative, Maya Ameratunga on January 15 said that her organisation would not support Afghan refugees found involved in terror activities in Pakistan, reports Dawn. She said that the UN Refugee Agency was aware of security challenges in Pakistan and supported measures being taking by the Government to improve law and order. She said some Afghan refugees, both registered and illegal, had been taken into custody by Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies for their alleged involvement in terror activities. The UNHCR, she added, would provide legal assistance only to registered Afghan refugees. She said the UN Refugee Agency has been providing assistance to Afghan refugees for their voluntary repatriation to their home country. She called upon the Pakistan Government not to use force for the repatriation of Afghans. The forced evacuation of refugees would affect a large number of Afghan families as security situation in Afghanistan was still not conducive, she added. She said efforts to improve security situation in Afghanistan were continued so that repatriation process of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries could be carried out in a smooth way. She said the UNHCR kept a continuous vigil at the activities of Afghan refugees and would inform Pakistani authorities if anyone of them is found involved in suspicious activities.
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January - 15 
The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif said on January 15 the military courts had been established with the consent of the people of Pakistan, reports The News. The General said Pakistan was in a state of war, and the government and the armed forces were determined to wipe out the terr
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The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif said on January 15 the military courts had been established with the consent of the people of Pakistan, reports The News. The General said Pakistan was in a state of war, and the government and the armed forces were determined to wipe out the terrorists as the recent [APS] incident had shown the extent to which they (the terrorists) could go. General Raheel was confident that Pakistan would overcome its problems soon.
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January - 16 
Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), General Raheel Sharif while speaking at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in London on January 16 said that National Action Plan (NAP) was a comprehensive long term strategy to address extremism, terrorism in the country with the Government doing bes
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Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), General Raheel Sharif while speaking at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in London on January 16 said that National Action Plan (NAP) was a comprehensive long term strategy to address extremism, terrorism in the country with the Government doing best for its implementation, adding that the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists in North Waziristan Agency of federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) was making good progress and there were no favourites among terrorists as all terrorists of any kind were being hit in the operation, reports Daily Times. General Sharif further said that the relations with Afghanistan were improving, adding, “We are working for stability in the region”. He said that longstanding Kashmir issue has to be resolved for long term peace, stability in South Asia, Pakistan wants peace, but with dignity and honour. He urged that negotiations between the two countries over Kashmir must be made on an equal basis. He said that the World needs to understand our environment. Our cooperation with United Kingdom (UK) in security, social sector is growing. About return of Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) from NWA, he said the world should help in dignified resettlement of TDPs.
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January - 16 
Director General (DG) Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa while addressing a think-tank of the Royal United Services Institute (USI) in United Kingdom (UK) on January 16 said that Security Forces have killed 2,000 militants in North Waziristan Agency of Federally A
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Director General (DG) Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa while addressing a think-tank of the Royal United Services Institute (USI) in United Kingdom (UK) on January 16 said that Security Forces have killed 2,000 militants in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb, reports The Express Tribune. He also said that 200 soldiers had been killed during the operation, and 800 others had sustained injuries. He reiterated the army’s resolve to ensure writ of the state in Bajaur and North Waziristan Agencies at all costs by wiping out militants. The DG ISPR said that effective military operations are under way to purge the areas of terrorists.
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January - 16 
Jama'at-e-Islami (JI) Chief Sirajul Haq while addressing a rally on Multan Road on January 16 warned that the anti-Islam policies of the west could plunge the world into the third world war, reports The News. He said that the respect of the Holy Prophet was an essential part of a Muslim’s faith. Tho
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Jama'at-e-Islami (JI) Chief Sirajul Haq while addressing a rally on Multan Road on January 16 warned that the anti-Islam policies of the west could plunge the world into the third world war, reports The News. He said that the respect of the Holy Prophet was an essential part of a Muslim’s faith. Thousand of faithful across the country came on roads to express their anguish over the fresh publication of blasphemous caricatures by a French Weekly and vowed to render every sacrifice to safeguard the sanctity of the Holy Prophet. The call for the protest had been given by Haq. He announced million marches in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi on January 23, 205, in continuation of the protest. He also stressed upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to call for an emergency meeting of the Muslim rulers to lodge protest with the French Government on this score and to stress upon the United Nations to frame laws ensuring respect for all the Prophets of Allah and all the revealed books.
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January - 16 
Pakistan cannot ban the Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) led by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed because it is a charitable and not terrorist organisation, said Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on January 16, reports Hindustan Times. Hussain’s comments came a day after some media channels q
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Pakistan cannot ban the Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) led by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed because it is a charitable and not terrorist organisation, said Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain on January 16, reports Hindustan Times. Hussain’s comments came a day after some media channels quoted unnamed Pakistani Interior Ministry sources as saying the Government was likely to outlaw several terrorist groups, including the JuD and the Haqqani Network. “We are looking to ban terror organisations but the JuD is a charitable organisation and the Government of Pakistan has no evidence against Hafiz Saeed or the JuD,” Hussain said. Hussain drew a distinction between the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) – banned as a terrorist organisation by Pakistan, India and the United States among other countries – and the JuD. Both India and the US say the LeT resurfaced as JuD after the ban. “Lashkar is banned in Pakistan and we have not found any linkages between JuD and LeT,’’ Hussain said, adding Saeed had the right to address rallies as he was “not involved in any terrorist activity”. He further said, “India or the US should give us evidence and we will consider it. The JuD does not have a military wing and they are only involved in preaching Islam and working in the education field.” Hussain said he also supported the JuD chief’s call for liberating Kashmir. “Even I refer to Kashmir as our atoot ang (inalienable part). Tomorrow you will ask for a ban against me and against all Pakistanis who support the freedom struggle in Kashmir,” the Minister said.
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January - 16 
Referring to Islamabad and Afghan Security Forces' expected launch of coordinated operation against terrorists in their respective border regions, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on January 16 said, “The Afghan Government has given its consent for launching a coordinated opera
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Referring to Islamabad and Afghan Security Forces' expected launch of coordinated operation against terrorists in their respective border regions, Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on January 16 said, “The Afghan Government has given its consent for launching a coordinated operation against terrorists,” reports The Express Tribune. Sherpao said the new Afghan Government was not only willing to cooperate in the war against terrorism but was also ready to enhance bilateral cooperation in other fields. The QWP chief also said that the new Afghan leadership desired close security cooperation with Pakistan in order to expedite action against terrorists and launch a coordinated offensive to wipe out terrorism from the region. “Apart from a detailed meeting with President Ghani, we also met Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah and other Afghan leaders. Our discussions were focused on how to enhance bilateral cooperation between our two countries,” said Sherpao. Since Pakistan has assured Kabul that it would not allow anyone to use its soil against Afghanistan, Sherpao said the Afghan leadership also expressed its desire to resolve all issues with Pakistan through mutual understanding. They want to normalise relations bedeviled by distrust and embark on a new journey of mutual friendship, he added.
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January - 16 
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on January 16 said that there has been 60 to 70 percent reduction in extortion and kidnapping-for-ransom cases and target killing incidents have reduced in Karachi, reports Daily Times. Khan said that after the Abbas Town blast in March 2, 2013, we focused on eli
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Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on January 16 said that there has been 60 to 70 percent reduction in extortion and kidnapping-for-ransom cases and target killing incidents have reduced in Karachi, reports Daily Times. Khan said that after the Abbas Town blast in March 2, 2013, we focused on elimination of four heinous crimes with all available resources which include terrorism, extortions, target killings and kidnapping-for-ransom and we got success and today there is clear reduction in these crimes in the city.
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January - 18 
The commander of The Resolute Support, the new mission of United States (US) and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Campbell on January 18 warned that the Islamic State (IS) is making recruitment in Afghanistan and Pakistan, reports Dawn. “We are seeing reports of some recruiting,” said Genera
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The commander of The Resolute Support, the new mission of United States (US) and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Campbell on January 18 warned that the Islamic State (IS) is making recruitment in Afghanistan and Pakistan, reports Dawn. “We are seeing reports of some recruiting,” said General Campbell, adding, “There have been some night letter drops, there have been reports of people trying to recruit both in Afghanistan and Pakistan, quite frankly.” General Campbell said the IS group, which had a “hard message to sell” in Afghanistan, but there were concerns that the group had the potential to spread its message in the country and in neighbouring Pakistan. “The Taliban have their allegiance to Mullah Omar and a different philosophy and ideology than ISIS, but, potentially, there are people who are disgruntled with the Taliban, they haven’t seen [Taliban 'commander'] Mullah Omar in years, or they want to go a different way,” he said. Those disgruntled with the Taliban leadership could be “vulnerable to the ISIS message, and so we’re looking at it very hard”, he said, adding that the US and Afghan authorities had so far seen “only bits and pieces” of this group in Afghanistan. “We’re doing deep dives into it to make sure we’re seeing everything. I’ve made it a priority intelligence requirement for my staff, but I have not seen a whole bunch of it yet, to tell you the truth,” Campbell added.
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January - 19 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing the inaugural session of Balochistan Development Forum organised by the Balochistan Chief Minister’s Policy Reform Unit (CMPRU) in Islamabad on January 19 said that the Government will cleanse Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administere
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing the inaugural session of Balochistan Development Forum organised by the Balochistan Chief Minister’s Policy Reform Unit (CMPRU) in Islamabad on January 19 said that the Government will cleanse Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of terrorists, reports Daily Times. "We will leave no stone unturned, to make sure that all areas of Pakistan, particularly Fata, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are cleansed of all kinds of terrorists, militants and violent extremists," he said, adds Dawn. Further he said owing to neglect in the past, Balochistan lagged behind in socioeconomic development and stressed that both Federal and Provincial Governments were now taking measures to ensure growth and peaceful environment in the Province, reports Daily Times. He said that the development of Balochistan was close to his heart, and despite constraints, the Federal Government provided substantial resources to supplement the efforts of the Provincial Government to address the needs of its people. He promised that Balochistan, which is becoming Pakistan's regional hub for trade in good and energy, will be the main beneficiary under the China-Pakistan economic corridor. "These initiatives, we hope, will bring about a socio-economic revolution for the people of Balochistan," said PM Sharif. Meanwhile, the political leaders and experts at the forum were unanimous in seeking autonomy for Balochistan and ownership over resources of the Province, adds The Express Tribune. Speaker Balochistan Assembly Jan Jamali urged Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch to assert Provincial autonomy under the 18th Amendment to push the agenda for inclusive development of the Province and its inhabitant.
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January - 20 
Pakistan on January 20 denied reports that the United Kingdom (UK) and Washington had asked it to handover Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) 'operations commander' and 2008 Mumbai terror attack (also known as 26/11) accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to India or to them for his "independent trial" to help improve tie
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Pakistan on January 20 denied reports that the United Kingdom (UK) and Washington had asked it to handover Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) 'operations commander' and 2008 Mumbai terror attack (also known as 26/11) accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to India or to them for his "independent trial" to help improve ties with New Delhi, reports The Times of India. "No one has asked or sent any formal request to the (Pakistan) Government to handover the person (Lakhvi) to India or any other country," Pakistan's foreign office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said. Federal Investigation Agency's prosecution chief Chaudhry Azhar had informed the Islamabad High Court on that two countries, whose citizens were killed in the Mumbai attacks, had asked Pakistan to hand over Lakhvi.
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January - 21 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while chairing a meeting on reviewing progress of National Plan of Action (NAP) on January 21 said that the nation has to succeed in the war of terror at any cost, as there is no margin of error, reports Daily Times. He directed the Law Enforcement Agencies’ chiefs to imp
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while chairing a meeting on reviewing progress of National Plan of Action (NAP) on January 21 said that the nation has to succeed in the war of terror at any cost, as there is no margin of error, reports Daily Times. He directed the Law Enforcement Agencies’ chiefs to improve mutual coordination in their ongoing counterterrorism drive in line with the NAP. The PM has also observed that steps are being taken for the effective implementation of NAP for complete elimination of terrorism. The high profile meeting reviewed security situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Balochistan. The Prime Minister said capacity building of all LEAs was the Government’s priority and stressed that transfers and postings in Police should be merit-based. He expressed satisfaction over the progress of the operation and said the LEAs were achieving the intended objectives at the desired pace. The meeting noted with appreciation the successful anti-terror operation in country on a tip-off by national intelligence agencies. He said implementation of NAP was the key to eradicate terrorism from the country. “We will do everything to achieve this objective even if this involves special allocation of funds,” he said.
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January - 21 
The United States (US) Government on January 21 said that it did not have confirmation on Pakistan banning the Haqqani Network or the Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD), reports The Express Tribune. “We recognise that Pakistan is working through the process of implementing measures to thwart violent extremism, i
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The United States (US) Government on January 21 said that it did not have confirmation on Pakistan banning the Haqqani Network or the Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD), reports The Express Tribune. “We recognise that Pakistan is working through the process of implementing measures to thwart violent extremism, including the National Action Plan. We don’t have any confirmation of specific steps,” said State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki. “The Pakistani Government has made clear in both private conversations and public statements that it is in Pakistan’s own interest to take steps against all militant groups in Pakistan, and explicitly to not differentiate between such group,” Psaki said, adding, “We support this commitment and believe that it is fundamental to addressing terrorism and ensuring attacks such as the horrific one that happened just weeks ago that impacted the Peshawar school children never occur again.” Meanwhile, the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said the country had taken the decision under the United Nations (UN) obligation as opposed to being under pressure from elsewhere. “Pakistan took this decision under the UN obligation and not under pressure from any other quarter including John Kerry (US Secretary of State),” Aslam clarified.
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January - 22 
The White House on January 22 described the US-Pakistan relationship as “incredibly important” to shared security and emphasized that United States’ relations with Pakistan and India are not at expense of the other, reports Daily Times. “We don’t view these relationships as taking place at the expen
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The White House on January 22 described the US-Pakistan relationship as “incredibly important” to shared security and emphasized that United States’ relations with Pakistan and India are not at expense of the other, reports Daily Times. “We don’t view these relationships as taking place at the expense of the other, that we can have a good relationship with India and we can have a good relationship with Pakistan,” Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor said. He was underscoring Washington’s commitment to having close ties with both the South Asian neighbors while speaking ahead of President Barrack Obama’s January 26 visit on the occasion of Indian Republic Day. “Obviously the US-Pakistan relationship is incredibly important to our shared security,” Rhodes remarked, adding the US president could not visit Pakistan in 2011 due to significant bilateral tensions that year.
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January - 23 
Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on January 23 said that there is no ban on Jama'at-ud Dawa (JuD) but its accounts have been frozen and movement of its members restricted as per the United Nations (UN) resolution, reports Daily Times. “We are proceeding strictly in accordance with UN
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Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on January 23 said that there is no ban on Jama'at-ud Dawa (JuD) but its accounts have been frozen and movement of its members restricted as per the United Nations (UN) resolution, reports Daily Times. “We are proceeding strictly in accordance with UN resolution and Jama'at’s bank accounts have been frozen, there is a ban on travel abroad of its leadership. We are moving in accordance with whatever is required under the UN resolution. I do not see much else needs to be done,’’ Basit said. He also stated that the facilities of JuD have been taken over by the Government of Pakistan. “I will remind the audience that the resolution (UN) does not state that member states lock up such individuals,” Basit said, adding, "Pakistan is now moving ahead without any distinction when it comes to terrorism. We are moving against firmly on all organisations that come under the purview.”
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January - 27 
Appreciating the tribal people for playing a significant role in expelling terrorists from their area, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on January 27 reiterated that Pakistan Army would not abandon the tribal areas without restoring functional normalcy, reports Daily Times. Speaking
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Appreciating the tribal people for playing a significant role in expelling terrorists from their area, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on January 27 reiterated that Pakistan Army would not abandon the tribal areas without restoring functional normalcy, reports Daily Times. Speaking to officers and men during his visit to Mohmand Agency, the COAS appreciated their professionalism, dedication and sacrifices in fighting terrorism and bringing stability in Mohmand Agency. General Raheel emphasized on the need to follow a comprehensive and uniform reconstruction and rehabilitation policy across Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) after areas had been cleared of terrorists. He expressed the hope that such projects would help root out terrorism on long term basis by providing education and economic opportunities to the youth, according to an ISPR press release.
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January - 27 
Asia Coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Bob Dietz, while addressing the second International Conference on Combating Impunity and Securing Safety of Media Workers and Journalists in Pakistan, on January 27 said that Pakistan ranks worryingly high when it comes to the number o
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Asia Coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Bob Dietz, while addressing the second International Conference on Combating Impunity and Securing Safety of Media Workers and Journalists in Pakistan, on January 27 said that Pakistan ranks worryingly high when it comes to the number of attacks on journalists in democratic countries, reports Dawn. He deplored that the authorities in Pakistan had failed to move forward in this regard and had not been able to provide an environment conducive for journalists so far. “Why can’t we make the situation better,” he asked, earnestly, adding that far too many journalists were getting caught in the crossfire between militants and the authorities. “A hit-list of journalists in Balochistan was floated by pro-establishment militants and this list was published in a report by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), but even then, five of the people on the list ended up dead,” said senior anchor Hamid Mir. He said that it was time the government passed a law for the protection of the media. “I do not say it will end the trouble, but it will be a first step towards a solution,” he added.
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January - 27 
The advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on January 27 that a new nuclear deal signed between the US and India during President Barak Obama’s recent trip to New Delhi will be detrimental to stability in South Asia, reports The News. "The operationalisation of Indo-US nuclear
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The advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said on January 27 that a new nuclear deal signed between the US and India during President Barak Obama’s recent trip to New Delhi will be detrimental to stability in South Asia, reports The News. "The operationalisation of Indo-US nuclear deal for political and economic expediencies would have a detrimental impact on deterrence stability in South Asia," Sartaj Aziz said. Aziz described the new deal with India as “another country-specific exemption from Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) rules” that would undermine the credibility of the watchdog, weaken the non-proliferation regime and "further compound the already fragile strategic stability environment in South Asia". "Pakistan remains opposed to policies of selectivity and discrimination," he added.
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January - 27 
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan on January 27 said the repatriation of the people displaced from Bara of Khyber Agency would begin after February 15 as most parts of the tehsil had been cleared from militants, reports Dawn. He also said PKR 850 million had been released for
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The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan on January 27 said the repatriation of the people displaced from Bara of Khyber Agency would begin after February 15 as most parts of the tehsil had been cleared from militants, reports Dawn. He also said PKR 850 million had been released for the restoration of electric supply and rehabilitation of schools, health units, roads and streets in Shalobar area ahead of the return of local displaced tribesmen.
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January - 28 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while speaking to Islamabad's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on January 28 said that the country would like to have normal relations with India on basis of mutual respect and sovereign equality as “India is an important neighbour for us,” reports The Express Tribu
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while speaking to Islamabad's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on January 28 said that the country would like to have normal relations with India on basis of mutual respect and sovereign equality as “India is an important neighbour for us,” reports The Express Tribune. He said that it is important for both Pakistan and India to resolve all their outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute in order to ensure peace and stability in the region.
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January - 30 
The Prime Minister (PM) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on January 30 that cases of target killings in Karachi could be sent to the proposed military trial courts for speedy disposal, reports The News. The PM stated this at the Sindh Governor House where he chaired a high-level meeting to review the law
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The Prime Minister (PM) Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said on January 30 that cases of target killings in Karachi could be sent to the proposed military trial courts for speedy disposal, reports The News. The PM stated this at the Sindh Governor House where he chaired a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation after reaching Karachi just one day after the city observed a strike called by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) against the extrajudicial killing of a party activist. The PM expressed the resolve at a meeting to eliminate the terrorists who had been responsible for causing lawlessness in the city while dubbing such criminals as enemies of the country.
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January - 30 
The United States (US) has strong relationships with both Pakistan and India and going forward Washington would continue to have a close strategic partnership with Islamabad, the State Department said on January 30, reports Daily Times. “We have assured both countries that the United States relation
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The United States (US) has strong relationships with both Pakistan and India and going forward Washington would continue to have a close strategic partnership with Islamabad, the State Department said on January 30, reports Daily Times. “We have assured both countries that the United States relationship with India and United States relationship with Pakistan, those relationships are strong, they are vital for our strategic interest, and they stand on their own,” Spokesperson Jen Psaki said replying to a question at the daily briefing. “We work with Pakistan on a range of issues. We work with India on a range of issues,” she added, when asked about Washington’s ties in South Asia in the wake of President Barak Obama’s visit to New Delhi. Responding to a question about Pakistan’s concerns regarding the impact of operationalisation of the US-India civil nuclear deal on the strategic stability in the region, the spokesperson noted that “this particular issue (of civil nuclear deal) is one that has been ongoing for some time. But we certainly have reiterated our strong commitment to strategic relationship with Pakistan. As you know, Secretary (of State John Kerry) was there just a couple of weeks ago, visiting and reiterating our commitment (to close ties).”
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February - 1 
The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on February 1 said that a resolution of the Kashmir issue is imperative for long-lasting peace in South Asia, The Express Tribune reported on February 2 quoting Radio Pakistan. Addressing a function on Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pervaiz Rashi
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The Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on February 1 said that a resolution of the Kashmir issue is imperative for long-lasting peace in South Asia, The Express Tribune reported on February 2 quoting Radio Pakistan. Addressing a function on Kashmir Solidarity Day, Pervaiz Rashid said the resolution would bring prosperity in the region, pulling people out of illiteracy and poverty. He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris in their just struggle for the right to self-determination. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Kashmir Committee and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that peace in South Asia is linked to good Pakistan-India ties, which is not possible without resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He said this at a seminar oraganised in connection with the Kashmir Day, which is held every year on February 5 to support the cause of resolving the Kashmir dispute. “If referendum can be held in Scotland then why a similar plebiscite can’t be held in Kashmir?” he questioned. He said that Kashmiris were sacrificing for their right of self determination, adding that Pakistan stands united with the people of Kashmir. He also criticized the international community for their discriminatory attitude towards the Kashmir dispute.
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February - 1 
The Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has said that the Nation, Government and the Army are on the same page to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country, reports Daily Times. He vowed to defeat the terrorists and make the country peaceful. He strongly condemned the Shikarpur incident where
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The Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has said that the Nation, Government and the Army are on the same page to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country, reports Daily Times. He vowed to defeat the terrorists and make the country peaceful. He strongly condemned the Shikarpur incident where innocent people were made targets. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif said on February 1 that the nation would emerge victorious in the war against terrorism, reports The Express Tribune. He was speaking to a delegation of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) activists. Sharif said victory was the only option in the war against terrorism. He said the nation agreed on the need to eradicate terrorism, religious extremism and sectarianism. Sharif said the nation would be rid of intolerance and religious extremism. The CM said the nation would be rid of terrorists who had done great damage to the national economy and the country. Sharif said the military and the political leadership and the state apparatus were determined to eradicate terrorism. He said this was necessary to ensure national progress, stability and secure the future of the following generations.
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February - 2 
The Sindh Government on February 2 decided to set up a 1,000-strong Police force - Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) to be trained by the Army - and approved the creation of a Counterterrorism Department and three zonal committees each having top officials of military, Rangers and Police to execute a Provi
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The Sindh Government on February 2 decided to set up a 1,000-strong Police force - Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) to be trained by the Army - and approved the creation of a Counterterrorism Department and three zonal committees each having top officials of military, Rangers and Police to execute a Provincial Action Plan (PAP), reported Dawn. The committee meeting, which was jointly chaired by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also decided to forward 57 terrorism cases to the newly-established military courts in the first phase. “Brigadier Ahsan Gulrez of V Corps said that in order to ensure execution of the PAP across the Province, three zonal committees — Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur — would be constituted." The statement read, “The directives of the provincial action plan are action against proscribed organisations, dealing firmly with sectarian terrorists, action against armed militias, Karachi targeted operation, choking of financing for terrorists and their organisations and establishment and deployment of a dedicated counterterrorism force.”
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February - 4 
The United States US Defence Intelligence Agency has informed Congress on February 4 that Pakistani military and paramilitary forces have succeeded in driving militants out of most population centres in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports Dawn. In his annua
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The United States US Defence Intelligence Agency has informed Congress on February 4 that Pakistani military and paramilitary forces have succeeded in driving militants out of most population centres in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reports Dawn. In his annual report to the House Armed Services Com¬mittee, Director Defence Intelligence Agency, Lieutenant General Vincent R. Stewart, also said “Army ground operations in North Waziristan Agency have cleared anti-state militants from most population centres, and we expect the military will continue targeting remaining militant strongholds in 2015”. But the report warns that despite ongoing military operations, “Pakistan will continue to face internal security threats from militant, sectarian, and separatist groups”. Additionally, Pakistan remains concerned about ISIS outreach and propaganda in South Asia.
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February - 5 
While addressing the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council’s joint session in Muzaffarabad District on February 5, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made it clear that Kashmir cannot be separated from Pakistan and expressed the resolve that Pakistan stands by Kashmiris i
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While addressing the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council’s joint session in Muzaffarabad District on February 5, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made it clear that Kashmir cannot be separated from Pakistan and expressed the resolve that Pakistan stands by Kashmiris in their struggle for independence from India, reported The News. He said that no solution to the Kashmir issue exists but a plebiscite under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) as no agenda of dialogue with India would be complete excluding the Kashmiris. “Our hearts beat with those of the Kashmiris,” he remarked. “Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan. Historically as well as geographically, both Kashmir and Pakistan are naturally like one soul and two hearts. We have been together for centuries and cannot be separated. We share our joys, sorrows, culture and festivals, which we celebrate together,” he added. Meanwhile, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) 'chief' Muhammad Hafiz Saeed while addressing a public meeting outside the Lahore High Court on the occasion of the Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 demanded PM Nawaz Sharif to immediately call a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Islamabad to chalk out a unanimous strategy of the Muslim world for resolving the Kashmir issue, reports The News. “We are Kashmiris and Kashmir is ours; our religion binds us as one nation and we will always continue our moral support to our brothers oppressed by the brutality of Indian armed forces in Kashmir,” he said. Saeed demanded Nawaz Sharif to summon a conference of Islamic countries’ heads in Islamabad on the issue of Kashmir. He suggested that Muslim countries should make their own Muslim United Nations and develop their joint army. America, India and Israel — they all are enemies of Islam and making conspiracies against Pakistan because they see its nuclear power as the “atom bomb of Islam”.
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February - 12 
Intelligence Agencies and officials investigating the January 30, 2015 Shikarpur Imambargah attack during an apex committee meeting jointly chaired by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on February 12 identified a militant group operating in Sindh and Balochis
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Intelligence Agencies and officials investigating the January 30, 2015 Shikarpur Imambargah attack during an apex committee meeting jointly chaired by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on February 12 identified a militant group operating in Sindh and Balochistan border areas, reports Dawn.“The meeting discussed the progress made so far on the Shikarpur probe,” said the source, adding, “It was stated that the Imambargah was bombed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group operating in the Balochistan-Sindh border areas. The mastermind of the bombing is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the facilitators were in Shikarpur. The investigators picked up five suspects during the course of probe but later released two of them. Twelve people are under investigation.”
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February - 12 
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has told US President Barack Obama that India doesn’t deserve to be a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) since it has been violating the UN resolutions on Kashmir, The News reported on February 13. These views were expressed by the PM when Obama cal
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Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has told US President Barack Obama that India doesn’t deserve to be a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) since it has been violating the UN resolutions on Kashmir, The News reported on February 13. These views were expressed by the PM when Obama called him on February12-evening. The two leaders discussed various issues for more than half an hour. Nawaz asked the US president to impress upon the Indian leaders to have a dialogue with Pakistan for the resolution of outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, as per Indian Prime Minister Modi’s commitment made on May 2014. The PM reminded Obama of the need for maintaining strategic balance in South Asia.
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February - 12 
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Asim Bajwa said on February 12 that most of the 27 militants who planned the attack on Army school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014, were Pakistani, reports The Express Tribune. Revealing details about the attack, DG ISPR said that nin
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The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Asim Bajwa said on February 12 that most of the 27 militants who planned the attack on Army school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014, were Pakistani, reports The Express Tribune. Revealing details about the attack, DG ISPR said that nine militants were killed, while 12 were arrested. Six of the 12 were arrested from Afghanistan. The remaining six militants are on the loose. While addressing a press briefing in Islamabad, Bajwa said 176 ‘hardcore’ terrorists have been killed since December 16. According to him, 1,942 intelligence-based operations were carried out across the country, killing 176 hardcore terrorists. More than 5,000 of them were also apprehended. Bajwa also said the attack was planned across the border in Afghanistan. The planning was done by Mullah Fazlullah and Aurangzeb alias Omar Amin,” he said. “Both are hiding in Afghanistan. Asif and Haji Kamran were later given the charge of the entire operation later, and went on to form two separate groups to execute the attack, added Bajwa. Responding to a question, DG IPSR said that there should be no hesitation in saying that there has been Indian involvement in Pakistan’s affairs, be it LoC violations, or support to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in FATA or elements in Balochistan. It is time for the world to do more for Pakistan, he said, adding that external support to the militants should end. “Pakistani forces are determined to eliminate terrorism.” Commenting on an interview of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General (retd) Asad Durrani, during which he said Pakistan probably knew the whereabouts of al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden, Bajwa said it has been established beyond doubt that Pakistan did not have any role in harbouring the Osama Bin Laden. “He (Asad Durrani) retired 30 years ago, and does not represent the agency… he does not have any intelligence or information,” Bajwa said.
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February - 16 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while chairing a meeting of the Sindh Apex Committee held at Governor House in Karachi on February 16 to review the progress on the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) and discuss matters related to overall law and order situation in the Province said that the Go
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while chairing a meeting of the Sindh Apex Committee held at Governor House in Karachi on February 16 to review the progress on the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) and discuss matters related to overall law and order situation in the Province said that the Government had no option but to win the war against terrorism and scourge would be eliminated from every nook and cranny of the country, reports Daily Times. He said following the December 16, 2014, Peshawar tragedy, the NAP was approved by the entire political leadership and the ultimate decision of the state was to eliminate terrorism from the country. He said two of the 20 points of NAP were implemented immediately while rest of the measures had been left up to the Apex Committees formed in all Provinces. Sharif said under NAP, the 21st constitutional amendment was passed and Army Act was also amended adding the country’s future and security were linked to NAP’s implementation. The whole nation is eyeing the tangible results of NAP, he added. Nawaz Sharif reiterated that terrorism would be eliminated from every nook and corner of the country besides tribal areas.
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February - 18 
The Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on February 18 said that the time had come to eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan once and for all, reports The News. “It is time to end this menace, and this is why we announced an all-out war against terrorism. We have formed a 20-point agenda to end thi
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The Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on February 18 said that the time had come to eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan once and for all, reports The News. “It is time to end this menace, and this is why we announced an all-out war against terrorism. We have formed a 20-point agenda to end this menace. Inshallah, we will not rest until terrorism is completely eliminated,” he said. The PM strongly condemned the terrorist attack at the Qasr-e-Sakina Imambargah in Islamabad, and extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Referring to recent terrorist attacks in the country, Sharif said that this was a sign that the terrorists were losing strength. “This is a signal that they (the terrorists) are trying to mount a final attack, but we know how much force they have left in them,” he said.
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February - 19 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on February 19 announced PKR 5 billion development package for Quetta and said that funds should be spent on building roads, improving sanitary system and cleaning the city, reports Dawn. Funds to the tune PKR 30 billion would be given for the purpose and international do
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on February 19 announced PKR 5 billion development package for Quetta and said that funds should be spent on building roads, improving sanitary system and cleaning the city, reports Dawn. Funds to the tune PKR 30 billion would be given for the purpose and international donors would be asked for assistance, he added.
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February - 19 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing the passing-out parade of first Special Combat Unit in Quetta on February 19 said that the entire nation was united against terrorism and will definitely win this war as it was a matter of survival for Pakistan’s future generations, reports Daily Times. H
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while addressing the passing-out parade of first Special Combat Unit in Quetta on February 19 said that the entire nation was united against terrorism and will definitely win this war as it was a matter of survival for Pakistan’s future generations, reports Daily Times. He said that Pakistan was currently facing serious challenge of terrorism that need to be countered with patience, tolerance, courage and a high state of vigilance. “The war initiated across the country against terrorism will continue till its logical end,” the Prime Minister said. He said it was in this regard that a Counter-Terrorism force has been established, equipped with modern weapons and equipment, and were being trained for special intelligence operations and investigation.
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February - 23 
Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on February 23 said that operation Zarb- Azb was launched to flush out terrorists and maintain peace in the country, reports The News. “Foreign elements are involved in spreading terrorism. Temperature on eastern border and working boundary had been inc
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Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on February 23 said that operation Zarb- Azb was launched to flush out terrorists and maintain peace in the country, reports The News. “Foreign elements are involved in spreading terrorism. Temperature on eastern border and working boundary had been increased with pre-plan mission. “We are raising voice at international forum about incidents of terrorism and involvement of a neighboring country in such activities”, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said. Pakistan is fully capable to eliminate the menace of terrorism from this area, he added. “We cannot rule out India’s involvement or support to Taliban who are spreading terrorism and disturbing peace of Pakistan”, he added further.
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February - 23 
The Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on February 23 chaired a meeting on the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) at the PM House, reports The News. The PM appreciated the Punjab Government for taking lead in implementing the plan for targeting terrorism and extremism in the country. He aske
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The Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on February 23 chaired a meeting on the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) at the PM House, reports The News. The PM appreciated the Punjab Government for taking lead in implementing the plan for targeting terrorism and extremism in the country. He asked the other provinces to speed up implementation of this important initiative that has the backing of the entire political spectrum of the country. He said that terrorists were enemies of stability and harmony and every possible step would be taken for ensuring their complete elimination.
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February - 25 
Former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on February 25 said that Kabul must share power with the extremist group Taliban and block Indian influence if it wants peace in the country, reports Dawn. He said that Afghan President Ashraf
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Former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf in an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on February 25 said that Kabul must share power with the extremist group Taliban and block Indian influence if it wants peace in the country, reports Dawn. He said that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s September inauguration presented a new opportunity for reconciliation between the Government and Taliban and related insurgent groups. “Ashraf Ghani is a balanced man,” he said, adding, “I think he’s a great hope.” Pakistan and India must stay away and avoid engaging in proxy war, he said. He further said that India had provided weapons, training and equipment to ethnic Baloch separatists inside Afghanistan. He said that United States (US) and its allies had consistently failed to consider Pakistan’s concerns, forcing Islamabad to rely on other militant groups inside Afghanistan to prop up its interests. He acknowledged that India and Pakistan had been engaged in a long-running proxy war on Afghan soil that fed the conflict. But, he said, his and Islamabad’s role in nurturing the Taliban and allied militant groups operating in Afghanistan were a legitimate counterweight against its rival India there. “There are enemies of Pakistan that have to be countered,” he said, adding, “Certainly if there’s an enemy of mine, I will use somebody to counter him.” “The world must realise that we may not like the face of Mullah Omar…but that is how life is, that is what Afghanistan is,” said Musharraf. But he said those groups were an instrument to counter India’s influence on the ground in Afghanistan and insisted that former US President George W. Bush “knew that I am not playing a double game” with Washington.
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February - 25 
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on February 25 said that 400 foreign students studying in different madrassas across Punjab without local documentation will be deported soon, reports The Express Tribune. He added that a list of these students has been sent to the Federal Government. “It’s a hi
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Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on February 25 said that 400 foreign students studying in different madrassas across Punjab without local documentation will be deported soon, reports The Express Tribune. He added that a list of these students has been sent to the Federal Government. “It’s a high-time to end terrorism. It’s now or never. All those Afghan immigrants who don’t have a permit will also be sent back,” he said, adding, “We are importing 1,000 biometric machines which would be linked to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) database and can verify if a person is a Pakistani citizen or not.”
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February - 25 
The Federal Ministry of Interior on February 25 said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) was carrying out terrorist activities across the country to get the hangings of its leaders and workers stopped and to secure their release or help them escape, reports The News. According to the National Crisis Manage
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The Federal Ministry of Interior on February 25 said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) was carrying out terrorist activities across the country to get the hangings of its leaders and workers stopped and to secure their release or help them escape, reports The News. According to the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) threat alert issued to the Provinces, militant groups like the LeJ and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), may jointly carry out terrorist activities. According to a private television channel, the cell has dispatched a letter (threat alert) to the home secretaries of Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Provincial Police Chiefs, the Inspector General (IG) Frontier Corps (FC) of KP and Balochistan and authorities in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the Gilgit Baltistan region. “The LeJ is infuriated over crackdown on its activists. LeJ had approached al Qaeda for help but it expressed its inability to do so citing its preoccupation in other areas like Syria and Iraq. LeJ then contacted TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah who not only provided finance to LeJ but also promised to extend further assistance. Now LeJ-Fazlullah nexus is at work in unleashing the wave of terrorism in the country,” the letter read. In the letter, the cell claims that terrorists are planning to conduct terrorist activities in the Punjab, most likely in Lahore.
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March - 1 
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz said on March 1 that the normalisation of Indo-Pakistan relations is urgently needed to reduce tension on the Line of Control (LoC), reports Dawn. “It is premature to predict the outcome of foreign secretary level talks be
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Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz said on March 1 that the normalisation of Indo-Pakistan relations is urgently needed to reduce tension on the Line of Control (LoC), reports Dawn. “It is premature to predict the outcome of foreign secretary level talks between Pakistan and India scheduled for next week but chances of a decision to resume a composite dialogue are likely either in the upcoming or the follow-up meetings,” Mr Aziz said. Mr Aziz said all outstanding issues, including the Kashmir dispute, had been part of agenda for talks with India. About the recent eight per cent increase in India’s defence allocation, the PM’s adviser said Pakistan had never been involved in arms race. However, he said, Pakistan would never compromise on availability of conventional weapons for its armed forces. Answering a question that foreign policy was being controlled by the army chief, the PM’s adviser said: “Harmony between political and military leadership is essential for national security which is an integral part of country’s foreign policy. It is not possible to implement the priorities on security issues without coordination with the armed forces.” Mr Aziz said the time of blame game between Afghanistan and Pakistan was over.
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March - 2 
Pakistan has deported around 2,000 unregistered Afghans after the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16, 2014, said an unnamed secuirity official on March 2, reports The Express Tribune. According to the sources, “Pakistani authorities have clearly conveyed to the Afghan Government
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Pakistan has deported around 2,000 unregistered Afghans after the attack on Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16, 2014, said an unnamed secuirity official on March 2, reports The Express Tribune. According to the sources, “Pakistani authorities have clearly conveyed to the Afghan Government that around three million refugees are posing grave security risk and it is now working to send back non-registered Afghan refugees at the earliest to minimise these risks.” These sources said that after the approval of the National Action Plan (NAP) the Provincial Governments have been directed to arrest illegal Afghans and deport them immediately. “It has been clearly conveyed to Afghan authorities that around all the three million refugees will be repatriated by December 2015, and meanwhile no action will be taken against the registered refugees,” the sources said, adding, “it has also been conveyed that action is only being taken against those Afghan refugees who have not got themselves registered properly.” The sources said that Intelligence Agencies have proof which was handed over to the Afghan authorities that there are unregistered Afghans who are involved in terrorist activities and crimes, creating law and order problems in Pakistan which cannot be tolerated anymore.
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March - 2 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a meeting with Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Janan Mosazai in Islaambad on March 2 said that relations with Afghanistan had undergone qualitative transformation since the Government took over in 2014, reports The News. He said Pakistan hopes that the proces
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a meeting with Ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan Janan Mosazai in Islaambad on March 2 said that relations with Afghanistan had undergone qualitative transformation since the Government took over in 2014, reports The News. He said Pakistan hopes that the process of peace talks within Afghanistan would speed up and reach a successful conclusion soon. He expressed satisfaction over the increased security cooperation between the two countries and said the recent visit of Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif proved quite helpful in streamlining important matters. He was also pleased over the first meeting of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Business Council that would be taking place in the next few weeks to attract international investors to both countries. PM Nawaz approved of the appointment of a focal person for following up implementation on the decisions taken during inter-ministerial meetings with Afghanistan on daily basis. A similar focal person would be appointed from the Afghan side as well, a PM Office statement said.
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March - 3 
During a roundtable organised by the Christian Science Monitor in Washington on March 3, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US) Jalil Abbas Jilani said that a formal announcement on outlawing the Haqqani Network it still under consideration, reported The News. “These are the kind of issues
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During a roundtable organised by the Christian Science Monitor in Washington on March 3, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (US) Jalil Abbas Jilani said that a formal announcement on outlawing the Haqqani Network it still under consideration, reported The News. “These are the kind of issues that are in the works, I would say,” Jilani said, when asked on a timeline for a formal announcement on the subject. Earlier in January 2015 Pakistani officials had said that Islamabad had decided to outlaw the militant group and that a formal announcement would come “within weeks." Jilani told reporters that as US troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan’s eastern border, they had seen increased militant activity, adding that a slower drawdown “would be viewed very positively in Pakistan.” He added that Pakistan has had to depute more soldiers on its Western border, boosting numbers from 145,000 to nearly 177,000 in a bid to control cross-border militancy. This has meant fewer troops were available for carrying out an offensive in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
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March - 3 
Pakistan and India on March 3 agreed to end the tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary and narrow down the differences in “a spirit of friendship and cooperation”, reports The News. Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Adviser to
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Pakistan and India on March 3 agreed to end the tension on the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary and narrow down the differences in “a spirit of friendship and cooperation”, reports The News. Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi after one-on-one and delegation-level talks with his Pakistani counterpart Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry. This was the first interaction between the two sides after 2012. The Indian foreign secretary handed over a letter from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz welcomed the meeting between the two foreign secretaries in Islamabad and hoped that the process would continue. He underlined the importance of enhanced cooperation among the SAARC member states. Pakistan said when both the countries were ready, future meetings could be planned by remaining in contact. Bilateral and regional issues, including those of common concern like Jammu and Kashmir, Sir Creek, Siachen Glacier, water issues, tension at the LoC and Working Boundary and terrorism, found place in the discussions held at the Foreign Office. “Both sides raised concerns and this visit is an ice-breaking development,” commented the spokesperson at the Foreign Office. Jaishankar said that the talks were held in a constructive and positive atmosphere, where he reiterated India’s concerns on cross border terrorism, including on the Mumbai case and emphasised that ensuring peace and tranquility on the border was vital. Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said that it was important to establish good neighbourly and cooperative relations between India and Pakistan, reports Daily Times. Nawaz said this was consistent with his vision of a peaceful neighbourhood in South Asia. He expressed confidence that the talks between the foreign secretaries of the two countries would result in charting the way forward in their bilateral relations. The PM said both the countries needed to open a new chapter in their relationship by working towards resolving their outstanding issues through dialogue, said a press release issued by the PM Office.
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March - 3 
States (US) Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief General Lloyd Austin while testifying before the Congress’ House Armed Services Committee on US CENTCOM’s posture on March 3 said that tensions between the two nuclear-tipped neighbours, India and Pakistan, affects regional stability and directly impacts P
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States (US) Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief General Lloyd Austin while testifying before the Congress’ House Armed Services Committee on US CENTCOM’s posture on March 3 said that tensions between the two nuclear-tipped neighbours, India and Pakistan, affects regional stability and directly impacts Pakistan’s strategy in Afghanistan, reports The Express Tribune. General Austin said that “Tension between Pakistan and India also continue to threaten regional stability and largely drives Pakistan’s regional strategy, especially as it relates to Afghanistan,” adding, “Our desired end-state is a stable sub-region characterised by a low risk of conventional or nuclear war, with regional states committed to non-interference with respect to their neighbors’ internal affairs, the denial of sanctuary for Violent Extremist Organistaions (VEOs), and the non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).” He said that they had made substantial progress in efforts to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan over the past year. “The US-Pakistan military-to-military relationship continues to improve. Key contributing factors are our Foreign Military Financing (FMF), international military education and training, and the Coalition Support Fund.” “We also prioritised our security cooperation at the Defense Consultative Group Conference with the goal to help Pakistan to build additional capacity in support of their counter-insurgency and CT operations and other common objectives.” Furhter he said that while militants were present in the border areas, Pakistan had been taking action against them. “Violent extremist organisations, to include the remnants of core al Qaeda, continue to operate in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and, to a lesser extent, parts of eastern Afghanistan.” He added that these groups threaten regional stability, plan attacks against the US and partner interests, and pursue WMD with Taliban insurgency continuing to present a credible threat to the Afghan Government. “We are encouraged by (Pakistan) leaderships’ commitment to counter-insurgency operations in the FATA and openness to improve relations with Afghanistan,” he said, adding, “The Pakistani military’s recent operations to clear militant strongholds in North Waziristan and other FATA regions and to prevent the militants’ return have achieved near-term successes. However, Pakistan will likely continue to face the threat of VEOs for the foreseeable future.”
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March - 5 
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam on March 5 said in Islamabad that the terrorism is a menace that any country alone cannot fight and required cooperation of all countries, reports The Nation. The Spokesperson said menace of terrorism is a problem that affects everyone, particularly this reg
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Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasneem Aslam on March 5 said in Islamabad that the terrorism is a menace that any country alone cannot fight and required cooperation of all countries, reports The Nation. The Spokesperson said menace of terrorism is a problem that affects everyone, particularly this region. She said Pakistan has suffered the most and it has done more than any other country to counter terrorism and we expect similar role from other countries. She said there are reports and also investigations about the number of incidents took place in India. She also added that it is not a good approach to immediately blame others, on terrorism incidents. First investigations should be conducted.
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March - 6 
Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti while addressing a press conference at Frontier Corps Madadgar Centre at Khoila Pathak on March 6 said that Security Forces (SF) foiled a bid to sabotage the Pakistan Day celebrations and arrested three suspects, recovering a huge cache of arms from their cus
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Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti while addressing a press conference at Frontier Corps Madadgar Centre at Khoila Pathak on March 6 said that Security Forces (SF) foiled a bid to sabotage the Pakistan Day celebrations and arrested three suspects, recovering a huge cache of arms from their custody from Hazar Ganji area of Provincial capital Quetta and from Chaman area of Qilla Abdullah District, reports Daily Times. The Balochistan Home Minister said that following a tip-off the forces launched a search operation in the said areas and recovered the arms and explosive material. “We arrested three militants from Chaman, possibly having links with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and some from Hazar Ganji area of the provincial capital, having links with the banned religious and nationalist organisations,” he said. Bugti said militants are working for other countries and involved in the killing of innocent people. He said they were planning to execute an attack on March 23, 2015, but the SFs arrested them after successful operations. Many militants, he claimed, have moved to the tribal areas of Balochistan, especially the Pashtun belt after the operation Zarb-e-Azab against militants’ hideouts in North Waziristan, adding that however there would not be any place for them to hide.
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March - 6 
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sanaullah Abbasi while speaking to journalists at the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) office in Hyderabad District of Sindh on March 6 said that extrajudicial killings and other actions cannot be justified officially but society has come to accept this ‘modus
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Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sanaullah Abbasi while speaking to journalists at the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) office in Hyderabad District of Sindh on March 6 said that extrajudicial killings and other actions cannot be justified officially but society has come to accept this ‘modus operandi’ of Police to eradicate crimes and make streets safer, reports Dawn. “It is not necessary for an encounter to be seen as genuine only if a Policeman loses his life in it. You can see Police have restored peace and order in the city (through this modus operandi)…,” he said. Asked if ‘half fry and full fry formula’ used by policemen to refer to a particular treatment meted out to arrested suspects in proportion to severity of their crimes, did not amount to extrajudicial actions, the DIG said he could confidently say that society had come to accept the ‘formula’. The terms ‘half fry’ and ‘full fry’ are commonly used by police to mean if officers are convinced the arrested suspects are involved in crimes they will be shot in the leg to render them disabled before sending them to jail. It had gained notoriety during the tenure of SSP Farid Jan Sarhandi. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Irfan Baloch who was also present at the briefing said that over the past three months, 73 suspects were arrested after they fell injured in encounters with Police. “Remember, none of them [suspects] can obtain bail. We have made a strong case to ensure they were denied any chance of getting bail,” he said.
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March - 6 
The team of four law enforcers who have been in Dubai for the past one month for the extradition of Peoples Amn Committee (PAC) leader Uzair Jan Baloch might have to return quickly as their visas are about to expire, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Ghulam Qadir Thebo said on March 6, reports Dawn
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The team of four law enforcers who have been in Dubai for the past one month for the extradition of Peoples Amn Committee (PAC) leader Uzair Jan Baloch might have to return quickly as their visas are about to expire, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Ghulam Qadir Thebo said on March 6, reports Dawn. The team, led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Naveed Khwaja, left for Dubai on February 5, 2015, after the Federal Ministry for Interior directed the Federal and Provincial authorities to conclude Uzair Baloch’s case within a week. So far, the leader of the proscribed group has not appeared before a judge in Dubai, though the authorities sounded positive that the four-member team of law enforcers could “very soon” get his custody from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) court. “We have done everything on our part. And at the moment we fear that the Police team’s visa might expire soon that might delay the process,” the Karachi Police Chief said, adding that they were “well equipped” to deal with the PAC leader’s case in Dubai as they had submitted all the evidence and case details to the authorities and were awaiting his appearance in the court and a judgment.
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March - 6 
The United States (US) State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf on March 6 said that US was encouraged by Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan on March 3, 2015, in a sign of thawing relations between the Islamabad and New Delhi, reports The Express Tribune. She said t
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The United States (US) State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf on March 6 said that US was encouraged by Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan on March 3, 2015, in a sign of thawing relations between the Islamabad and New Delhi, reports The Express Tribune. She said that the US welcomed the visit. “We certainly were encouraged that they (India and Pakistan) decided to resume dialogue,” Harf stated, adding, “Both India and Pakistan stand to benefit from practical cooperation and an improved relationship.” She added that better ties would be “good for regional peace and stability in South Asia” “In general, obviously, we (US) think cooperation is a good thing.”
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March - 8 
Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz while addressing the 6th Think Tanks Forum of Islamic Countries in Islamabad on March 8 said that all the issues between India and Pakistan need a comprehensive dialogue process, as there is a lack of trust between th
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Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz while addressing the 6th Think Tanks Forum of Islamic Countries in Islamabad on March 8 said that all the issues between India and Pakistan need a comprehensive dialogue process, as there is a lack of trust between the two countries, reports Daily Times. The Adviser said Pakistan wants to resolve all the issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, Siachin, Sir Creek and other disputes with India through dialogue process. He further stated that the Pakistan Government and the Army are on the same page on ties with China, India and Afghanistan, adds The News. He said the Muslim Ummah (community) needs to join hands to face the challenges of extremism and terrorism with a view to improve the perception of Islam and to settle political disputes.
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March - 8 
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Haider Jamali while speaking to journalists at a reception hosted by Shikarpur SSP Saqib Ismail Memon on March 9 said that the Sindh Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies were making joint efforts to curb terrorism and other criminal activities
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Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Haider Jamali while speaking to journalists at a reception hosted by Shikarpur SSP Saqib Ismail Memon on March 9 said that the Sindh Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies were making joint efforts to curb terrorism and other criminal activities including kidnapping for ransom and extortion across the province in general and Karachi in particular, reported Dawn. He said action was being taken against all terrorists and criminals without considering their political or religious affiliation. He claimed that a remarkable reduction in heinous crimes was noted after launching of operations in Shikarpur, Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro and other areas. In addition, Sindh Police chief during a press conference held in the office of the Sukkur Deputy Inspector General (DIG) on March 9 said that the law and order situation in Karachi had registered a significant improvement due to the Rangers-led operation, which would continued until lasting peace was restored to that city, reports Dawn.
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March - 8 
The FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) began on March 8 registering about 3,000 displaced families to be sent back to parts of South Waziristan Agency, reports Dawn. The authority’s coordinator, Omar Mehsud, said the return journeys of the families would begin on March 16 after completion of
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The FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) began on March 8 registering about 3,000 displaced families to be sent back to parts of South Waziristan Agency, reports Dawn. The authority’s coordinator, Omar Mehsud, said the return journeys of the families would begin on March 16 after completion of the registration process. A facilitation desk has been set up in the office of the political agent in Tank where those wishing to return are being registered. He said the registration process would continue for three days and families hailing from Sarwakai and Sararogha tehsils, adjacent to Frontier Region Tank, would be sent back to their homes. The authority in collaboration with political administration has identified six villages in Sarwakai and 10 villages in Sararogha where these 3,000 families of Mehsud tribe would be rehabilitated. Around 70,000 families of Mehsud tribe were forced to leave their homes when Security Forces launched Operation Rah-e-Nijat (Path to Salvation) against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in June, 2009. However, a large part of the region dominated by the Mehsud tribe is still considered as a conflict zone, which is delaying the return of IDPs to those areas. Displaced families have been residing in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but a large number of them have also moved to Karachi and Hyderabad.
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March - 9 
A senior Afghan lawmaker warned President Ashraf Ghani about relying on Pakistan to help broker peace talks with the Taliban, citing what he said was Islamabad’s history of supporting the insurgents, reports Daily Times on March 10 (today). “I am in support of peace and stability in Afghanistan, but
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A senior Afghan lawmaker warned President Ashraf Ghani about relying on Pakistan to help broker peace talks with the Taliban, citing what he said was Islamabad’s history of supporting the insurgents, reports Daily Times on March 10 (today). “I am in support of peace and stability in Afghanistan, but I don’t have much faith in Pakistan’s honesty over peace talks,” said Speaker of the Upper House of Parliament Fazil Hadi Muslimyar, adding, “President Ashraf Ghani must have a guarantee from Pakistan that if the Taliban enter into negotiations, Pakistan will not use other militants as proxies [to fight against Afghanistan]." A former National Security Adviser in the last Government, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, said that he supported the peace initiative, but also had concerns about Pakistan’s role in the process. “Pakistan’s military and its intelligence agency are the forces behind the Taliban, and that prevents me from being hopeful,” Spanta said.
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March - 9 
According to authorities, the Islamic State (also known as Daesh or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria -ISIS/IS), has significant presence in Pakistan through a website managed by terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reports The Express Tribune on March 10 (today). Amid confusion and a str
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According to authorities, the Islamic State (also known as Daesh or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria -ISIS/IS), has significant presence in Pakistan through a website managed by terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), reports The Express Tribune on March 10 (today). Amid confusion and a struggle to remove a legal lacuna to deal with cyber crime-related issues, relevant authorities have been reluctant to block the terrorist groups’ propaganda website — which, according to security analysts, is being used as a launching pad for expansion into Pakistan by the Islamic State and al Qaeda. At present, a cyber crime wing in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and a vigilance cell in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) exclusively deal with such violations. However, officials in these wings are not ready to block the website, citing judicial and administrative hurdles. The website contains verses from the Holy Quran, jihadi songs, statements in support of sectarianism and propaganda material against the Security Forces. It also has pictures of slain TTP 'chief' Hakimullah Mehsud and 'incumbent chief' Mullah Fazlullah. Referring to the controversy, a senior official in the PTA, Abdul Samad, said that a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Bolo Bhi, which works for to protect rights of internet users, took the authority to the Islamabad High Court, which restrained the Inter-Ministerial Committee from functioning. The Committee decides if a website should be accessed or blocked in Pakistan. Bolo Bhi’s counsel Babar Sattar argued that the workings of the Committee had been non-transparent and dubious. He maintained that policy is not a law through which websites had been blocked. State Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rehman said that the cyber crimes bill 2015 (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill) is being thoroughly reviewed in order to make it consistent with the National Action Plan (NAP). This is so that it can cater to the growing needs of the drastically changing and challenging scenario in the wake of an increase in terrorism in the cyber space, said Rehman.
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March - 10 
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said that they arrested two suspected militants, identified as Subhanullah and Rafiullah, from Peshawar on March 10, reported The News. The two were shifted to an unknown place for an interrogation. He said that the militants were
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The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said that they arrested two suspected militants, identified as Subhanullah and Rafiullah, from Peshawar on March 10, reported The News. The two were shifted to an unknown place for an interrogation. He said that the militants were involved in the attack on the office of a Government Department at Torkham border and the other Rafiullah was the ringleader of a kidnappers gang.
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March - 11 
The Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on March 11 said that the raid on MQM headquarters was lawfully conducted by Rangers, reports The News. In a statement, he said that the raid was carried out on intelligence report, adding that taking action within the ambit of law was the re
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The Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on March 11 said that the raid on MQM headquarters was lawfully conducted by Rangers, reports The News. In a statement, he said that the raid was carried out on intelligence report, adding that taking action within the ambit of law was the responsibility of Police and Rangers. The minister said that the MQM itself demanded the ongoing targeted operation against criminals in Karachi. He said that the prime minister had granted the permission of carrying out the Karachi operation after the Cabinet’s approval. Chaudhry Nisar said all political parties were taken into confidence over the action, adding it was agreed upon that political affiliations would not come in the way of the operation.
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March - 12 
Appreciating the Sindh Rangers for their commitment to restore normality in Karachi, provincial capital of Sindh a day after they raided the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters Nine-Zero, Corps Commander Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar on March 12 said that the ongoing targeted operation
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Appreciating the Sindh Rangers for their commitment to restore normality in Karachi, provincial capital of Sindh a day after they raided the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters Nine-Zero, Corps Commander Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar on March 12 said that the ongoing targeted operation will continue till the elimination of the last criminal and target killer, reports The News. He said the operation should continue till the port city was purged of terrorists and criminals. In a detailed briefing, Deputy General Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar informed the Corps Commander that the operation was conducted on March 11, 2015, after confirmed information about the presence of alleged criminals, target killers and anti-social elements along with a heavy cache of arms and ammunition. He said the Rangers, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders, arrested the absconding criminals sentenced to death for their involvement in targeted killings, while prohibited weapons were recovered from the Khursheed Begum Memorial Hall and surrounding offices and houses. The statement further maintained that those arrested, including the 26 alleged target killers wanted for more than 50 killings, were presented before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on March 12, while 27 others were designated in various FIRs. “Preventive detention as well as joint investigation of individuals is also being procured. The arrested individuals as well as the seized weapons would be handed over to the city police,” it said.
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March - 12 
The Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said on March 12 that the terrorism is the common enemy of Pakistan and Afghanistan, requiring common endeavors to get it defeated, reports The News. “Pakistan is determined to eliminate terrorism at the earliest by exploiting all available resources. Building st
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The Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif said on March 12 that the terrorism is the common enemy of Pakistan and Afghanistan, requiring common endeavors to get it defeated, reports The News. “Pakistan is determined to eliminate terrorism at the earliest by exploiting all available resources. Building stable and cooperative relations with all the countries in the region, including Afghanistan, is part of our vision of a peaceful neighborhood and region,” he said while talking to Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi, who called on him at the PM House. Nawaz said with the change of leadership in Afghanistan, the two countries had started a historic new phase in their bilateral relations, agreeing to overcome the past and building a forward-looking relationship based on mutual trust. “Our focus is on enhanced political engagement, security and counter-terrorism cooperation, trade and economic partnership, and regional cooperation. Both the countries have paid a very heavy price at the hands of terrorism and now we have launched the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, which has broken the backbone of terrorist network in the country,” he said. “We have a commitment not to allow territories to be used against each other,” he said, adding, “Pakistan is in favour of an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process.”
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March - 13 
An unnamed Police Official of the investigation wing on March 13 said that the Lahore Police has received the geo-fencing information of the suicide bomb blast outside Police headquarters at Qila Gujjar Singh in Lahore District on February 17, 2015, which revealed that attackers were receiving instr
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An unnamed Police Official of the investigation wing on March 13 said that the Lahore Police has received the geo-fencing information of the suicide bomb blast outside Police headquarters at Qila Gujjar Singh in Lahore District on February 17, 2015, which revealed that attackers were receiving instructions from militants in Afghanistan, reports The Express Tribune. The official said that after the bomb blast the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) carried out the geo-fencing of the crime scene which revealed that the terrorists had been in the Qila Gujjar Singh area for two days and were in contact with an outfit in Afghanistan from whom they were taking directions. “The target of the terrorist was the Police lines which they failed to target with perfection,” he added. He added that 11 alleged terrorists are in police detention and we are interrogating them. The Provincial Police Chief confirmed that Police Lines was the intended target. “The bomber wanted to enter Police Lines but exploded prematurely,” Inspector General (IG) Punjab Mushtaq Ahmad Sukehra said. After failing to get into the Police Lines, the bomber detonated the explosives strapped to his body in front of a nearby multi-storey building that had offices of travel agencies.
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March - 13 
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while addressing the 87th passing-out parade of the Sindh Police Saeedabad Police Training College in Baldia Town on March 13 said that the ongoing targeted operation was launched in consultation with the MQM and it had yielded positive results with regard to
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Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while addressing the 87th passing-out parade of the Sindh Police Saeedabad Police Training College in Baldia Town on March 13 said that the ongoing targeted operation was launched in consultation with the MQM and it had yielded positive results with regard to elimination of terrorism, targeted killing, kidnapping-for-ransom and extortion, reported Dawn. He said the country was passing through a crucial period and routine life in Sindh, Karachi in particular, had been virtually paralysed due to terrorism and lawlessness. He said that targeted killing, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and terrorism had emerged as a big challenge for the government. He claimed that the result of the government’s effective strategy and coordinated performance of the police and Rangers was evident from the fact that now there was not a single case of kidnapping-for-ransom, traders were not receiving any extortion slips and targeted killing had become almost nonexistent.
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March - 14 
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Abbasi unveiled on March 14 a programme for the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of three tribal agencies, reports Dawn. The programme will be implemented from March 16. Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Abbasi said in the first phase 40,50
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The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Abbasi unveiled on March 14 a programme for the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of three tribal agencies, reports Dawn. The programme will be implemented from March 16. Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Abbasi said in the first phase 40,500 families would go back to South Waziristan Agency (SWA), Khyber Agency and North Waziristan Agency (NWA). The Government would pay Rs 25,000 in cash and Rs 10,000 as transportation cost to each household. He said payment of cash grant to over 300,000 displaced families and compensation for damaged houses required PKR 80 billion, adding that some foreign donors had shown willingness to contribute in this regard. Sardar Mehtab termed the dislocation of a large number of people from FATA “a great human tragedy.” According to the breakdown, 2,500 families will return to Sarwakai and Sararogha tehsils (revenue unit) of SWA, 20,000 to Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency and 18,000 to Mir Ali tehsil of NWA. Repatriation to SWA will start on March 16, to Khyber on March 20 and to NWA on March 31. Villages and tehsils, where displaced families would return, have been identified. The Governor said 29 such villages in Mir Ali and Akakhel tribe- dominated area in Bara tehsil had been identified for the return process. Meanwhile, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has verified 310,729 IDP families from FATA. After the launch of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, 101,788 families had left NWA and 86,107 had shifted from Khyber Agency in 2014. As many as 66,978 families had moved from SWA in 2009 and since then they are waiting for return to their homes. In reply to a question, the Governor said around 125,000 people of NWA had taken refuge in Afghanistan but most of them had returned to Pakistan via Kurram Agency. The authorities are facilitating tribal people coming back from Afghanistan.
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March - 15 
A Rangers spokesperson said on March 15 that ambulance services of certain welfare organisations, and their officials, were involved in the illicit trade of illegal weapons in the city, reports Dawn. An official of the paramilitary force said that during investigation of arrested suspects, it has be
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A Rangers spokesperson said on March 15 that ambulance services of certain welfare organisations, and their officials, were involved in the illicit trade of illegal weapons in the city, reports Dawn. An official of the paramilitary force said that during investigation of arrested suspects, it has been uncovered that “officials and personnel of certain welfare services are involved in smuggling and hiding of illegal weapons across the city”. Through the statement, the paramilitary force warned that “direct or indirect involvement in smuggling of arms is a high level crime. All those involved in such illegal practices will be brought to book under the Sindh Arms Act”. The paramilitary force had claimed in a statement that one accused Umair Hassan Siddiqui, allegedly involved in killing of 120 people, was a key member of the target-killing racket and he became part of a team when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) decided to carry out killings on ethnic grounds in 2008.
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March - 15 
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on Mach 15 said that criminals belonging to any group would not get any relaxation on political basis, reports Daily Times. He said that the Law Enforcement Agencies, including Rangers, had no role in politics and were taking actions a
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Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on Mach 15 said that criminals belonging to any group would not get any relaxation on political basis, reports Daily Times. He said that the Law Enforcement Agencies, including Rangers, had no role in politics and were taking actions according to the unanimous decisions of the democratically elected Government. If anybody had complaint regarding the operation in Karachi, he could approach the independent judiciary, he said and added, “We do politics of reconciliation and not that of expediency.” He said if any criminal used the flag and office of any political party, then it was obligation of that political party to surrender the person to the law. “Armed forces, security and intelligence agencies and police are chasing the terrorists,” he said, adding that the Government owned the operation in Karachi and indiscriminate action would be taken to establish peace in the city and arrest the criminals. “Nobody will be allowed to indulge in crime on the pretext of religion and politics,” he warned.
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March - 15 
Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on March 15 ordered halt to implementation on the agreements with other countries for exchange of convicted criminals, reported Daily Times. An unnamed official of Interior Ministry said in a statement that it was revealed in the investigations c
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Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on March 15 ordered halt to implementation on the agreements with other countries for exchange of convicted criminals, reported Daily Times. An unnamed official of Interior Ministry said in a statement that it was revealed in the investigations conducted on the orders of the Interior Minister that in the last many years Pakistanis involved in dangerous crimes abroad were brought to Pakistan under these agreements. Then in connivance with the officers of Interior Ministry and Provincial Governments these convicts were released illegally. Before formulating any transparent policy, the interior minister has stopped the Interior Ministry and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from implementing the agreements. The Minister ordered that the inquiry regarding the convicts released in the last several years should be completed in a week and strict action should be taken against all those persons involved in the illegal activity and they should be arrested.
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March - 16 
Pakistan hanged 12 male convicts on March 17 (today), Federal Ministry of Interior spokesperson said, the largest number of people executed on the same day since an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment was lifted on December 17, reports The Express Tribune. Three convicts were hanged in Jhang
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Pakistan hanged 12 male convicts on March 17 (today), Federal Ministry of Interior spokesperson said, the largest number of people executed on the same day since an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment was lifted on December 17, reports The Express Tribune. Three convicts were hanged in Jhang, two each in Multan, Mianwali, Karachi and Rawalpindi and one in Dera Ghazi Khan, adds The News. Twenty-seven people have been hanged since then, most of them militants, but last week it emerged that officials had quietly widened the policy to include all prisoners on death row whose appeals had been rejected. “They were not only terrorists, they included the other crimes, some of them were murderers and some did other heinous crimes,” the Federal Ministry of Interior spokesman said of the 12 executed at various jails.
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March - 16 
The founder and leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, on March 16 categorically declared that the party has no militant wing and it never patronised criminal elements, reports The News. In a statement issued from the party’s London Secretariat, the MQM chief said that the part
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The founder and leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, on March 16 categorically declared that the party has no militant wing and it never patronised criminal elements, reports The News. In a statement issued from the party’s London Secretariat, the MQM chief said that the party does not believe in confronting the law enforcement agencies. He urged the party workers and office-bearers to follow the MQM’s peaceful and non-violent policy. He said that the MQM had hundreds of thousands of workers and if any of them was involved in any criminal activity, he did not do so as a party policy since the party had zero tolerance against criminals and crime.
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March - 16 
The Pakistan Army on March 16 said that the writ of the Government has been established in Bara area of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and announced a successful conclusion of the Operation Khyber-I, reports Daily Times. Brigadier Zahid Khan, in-charge of the military op
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The Pakistan Army on March 16 said that the writ of the Government has been established in Bara area of Khyber Agency in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and announced a successful conclusion of the Operation Khyber-I, reports Daily Times. Brigadier Zahid Khan, in-charge of the military operation in Bara, in a media briefing at the Bara Training Centre announced a successful end of the operation. He said that during the third phase of Operation Khyber-I, areas of Akakhel Jhansi, Dojangi and Gandawa have been cleared of militants. He said that over 100 militants were killed during the operation, while around 450 terrorists have been arrested for their involvement in anti-state activities.
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March - 16 
The process of return of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) started on March 16 with giving a send-off to 200 families on the first day at Kor Qilla area of Tank District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Daily Times. The political administration and Army had made
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The process of return of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) started on March 16 with giving a send-off to 200 families on the first day at Kor Qilla area of Tank District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Daily Times. The political administration and Army had made foolproof security arrangements on the occasion where media was briefed with regard to issues pertaining repatriation and rehabilitation of the displaced populace of SWA. Besides the Army, the political administration in collaboration with the FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) is facilitating the TDPs on their return.
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March - 19 
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on March 19 said that operation against terrorists and miscreants in Karachi was launched after taking all political parties into confidence, reports Daily Times. He said peace and stability of the country’s commercial hub was in the interest of all. The situation in
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Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on March 19 said that operation against terrorists and miscreants in Karachi was launched after taking all political parties into confidence, reports Daily Times. He said peace and stability of the country’s commercial hub was in the interest of all. The situation in Karachi had considerably improved since the start of the operation and incidents of kidnapping for ransom, extortion of money and target killing had reduced, he said. Talking to the PML-N MNAs from Faisalabad Division, the PM said there was no space for terrorism in the country and criminals convicted in heinous crimes would be brought to justice. He said there was no justification for anyone in the country to keep illegal weapons.
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March - 19 
The Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali on March 19 said that the ongoing Karachi operation was against the elements involved in target killings, terrorism and extortion, reports Daily Times. “It is not against any political party rather it is to cleanse the city of target killers,
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The Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali on March 19 said that the ongoing Karachi operation was against the elements involved in target killings, terrorism and extortion, reports Daily Times. “It is not against any political party rather it is to cleanse the city of target killers, terrorists, extortionists as well as their collaborators and handlers,” he said. He said that there was law and order situation in Karachi for last 12 years, which forced the Government to launch the operation in consultation with political parties.
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March - 20 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during the Launch of the Civil Aviation Policy 2015 on March 20 said that the Government was trying to control the law and order problem in Karachi, which is the business hub of the nation, adding that it was his objective to make Karachi a crime-free city, reports The Ne
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during the Launch of the Civil Aviation Policy 2015 on March 20 said that the Government was trying to control the law and order problem in Karachi, which is the business hub of the nation, adding that it was his objective to make Karachi a crime-free city, reports The News. He said that the Government was taking active measures for multi-dimensional development of the country. He further said that PIA will have to make a distinction between its good and bad people if it has to move forward.
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March - 21 
Union Home Minister (UHM) Rajnath Singh on March 21 stated at Attari in Amritsar District, "End atmosphere of terror and learn to live with peace", reports The Times of India. Addressing a gathering at Attari border post, Rajnath recalled former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's words "we can change fri
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Union Home Minister (UHM) Rajnath Singh on March 21 stated at Attari in Amritsar District, "End atmosphere of terror and learn to live with peace", reports The Times of India. Addressing a gathering at Attari border post, Rajnath recalled former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's words "we can change friends but not neighbours" and said the government wanted friendly relations with Pakistan. "Vajpayee had offered the hand of friendship to Pakistan. He not only wanted friendly ties with Pakistan but heart-to-heart relations between the people of the two countries. But what did we get in return? Kargil war," he said. Stating that despite Kargil, India had showed its generosity and again extended the hand of friendship towards Pakistan, he said, "So far, we have not been able to achieve what we want". "Pakistan has to consider stopping the business of terror and prevent turning green pastures into red with blood of innocent people. Terror has to end," he added.
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March - 22 
Corps Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua while addressing a gathering on the inauguration of Balochistan Sports Festival on March 22 urged the estranged Baloch youth to avoid taking up arms and adopt the path of peace, reports The News. He added that the Baloch are alrea
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Corps Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua while addressing a gathering on the inauguration of Balochistan Sports Festival on March 22 urged the estranged Baloch youth to avoid taking up arms and adopt the path of peace, reports The News. He added that the Baloch are already independent and asked which independence they were fighting for. He said we should say goodbye to a fight that has taken birth from sectarianism, and the menace of terrorism would be rooted out from Balochistan and the country.
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March - 22 
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, on March 22 reiterated that military operations would continue at all costs to clear all the urban centres and rural areas of terrorists so as to ensure peace and prosperity in the country, reports The News. The Army chief expressed this res
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The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, on March 22 reiterated that military operations would continue at all costs to clear all the urban centres and rural areas of terrorists so as to ensure peace and prosperity in the country, reports The News. The Army chief expressed this resolve during his visit to the corps headquarters where he was briefed on security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa/FATA, Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the ongoing military operation in the Khyber Agency, which is making a steady progress, said Director General ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa in his tweet. General Raheel said the ongoing military operations will continue to their logical conclusion and the terrorists squeezed in isolated pockets would be targeted with precision.
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March - 23 
More than half of the nearly 6,000 suspected criminals arrested during the ongoing surgical operation in Karachi are affiliated with political parties, said an unnamed counterterrorism officials on March 23, reports The Express Tribune. “Civilian and Intelligence Agencies have rounded up 5,882 suspe
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More than half of the nearly 6,000 suspected criminals arrested during the ongoing surgical operation in Karachi are affiliated with political parties, said an unnamed counterterrorism officials on March 23, reports The Express Tribune. “Civilian and Intelligence Agencies have rounded up 5,882 suspected criminals since the launch of the Karachi operation in September 2013. Of them, 55 per cent are associated with political parties,” a senior official of Federal Ministry of Interior said. He complained that lack of cooperation from major political players has long been undermining effective operations against criminals in the city. “We’ve sought cooperation from four political parties to purge Karachi of criminals,” he added. The political parties have, however, always denied existence of their militant wings and disowned criminals arrested by law enforcers. The official said criminal elements in Karachi had been divided into three categories: anti-state elements; workers of banned outfits; and their facilitators. The Rangers in cooperation with Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have collected the data of all criminals, enlisting 913 militants involved in anti-state activities, he said, adding, “Their cases will be sent to the military courts for sure. It’s time to catch the big fish in Karachi.” The official said around 1,700 suspected criminals were working for one political party while another 1,563 were associated with three other major parties of the city. “All of them are involved in murders, kidnapping, extortion and other criminal activities,” he claimed. Around 365 militants are working for the Taliban and al Qaeda, he added, and another 1,341 are working with other proscribed outfits.
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March - 23 
The Army on March 23 took control of the Mastol Pass that links the Khyber Agency to Afghanistan and has been used by terrorists for movement to Afghanistan, reports The News. The Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, said that the Mastol Pass had
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The Army on March 23 took control of the Mastol Pass that links the Khyber Agency to Afghanistan and has been used by terrorists for movement to Afghanistan, reports The News. The Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, said that the Mastol Pass had been seized by the Pakistani forces and now our forces were tightening the noose against the terrorists. He said that significant effects were achieved by the air strikes on Sunday night targeting the terrorists in an area close to the Afghan border.
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March - 23 
The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, on March 23 said there were no confirmed reports of death of TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah in the ongoing operation in Tirah Valley, reports The News. “The factual position will emerge in a day or two,” he said while interacting with media p
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The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, on March 23 said there were no confirmed reports of death of TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah in the ongoing operation in Tirah Valley, reports The News. “The factual position will emerge in a day or two,” he said while interacting with media persons.
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March - 25 
Authorities in Pakistan have frozen a number of accounts used to funnel PKR 10.2 billion in cash to terror and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) suspects, officials overseeing the National Action Plan (NAP) said on March 25, reports The Express Tribune. Law Enforcement Agencies also recovered PKR 101.7 mi
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Authorities in Pakistan have frozen a number of accounts used to funnel PKR 10.2 billion in cash to terror and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) suspects, officials overseeing the National Action Plan (NAP) said on March 25, reports The Express Tribune. Law Enforcement Agencies also recovered PKR 101.7 million either from clerics or workers of banned organisations, they said. These actions, taken with the assistance of the State Bank of Pakistan, are part of the overall efforts to throttle the flow of foreign funding to terrorists and proscribed organisations in the country. “To choke terror funding [in all shapes] is our top priority, this is our strategy to weaken foreign-funded militants,” said Hamid Ali Khan, National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). Another unnamed senior official of the Federal Ministry of Interior said that United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions 1,267 and 1,373 bound member states not only to take measures against terrorists but also establish a global sanctions regime against designated individuals and entities associated with notorious global terror networks. He revealed that civilian and Intelligence Agencies have arrested 150 people, half of them clerics, in violation of laws dealing with hawala, hundi, suspicious transactions and AML by registering cases against 130 individuals who were getting money from foreign countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Australia, United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Hong Kong, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.
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March - 25 
Sindh Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police (training) Dr Jamil Ahmed while addressing the first passing-out parade of 1,085 policemen at the Recruitment Training Centre (RTC) in Hyderabad District on March 25 said that the Sindh Police has chalked out a plan under which army personnel will impart a
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Sindh Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police (training) Dr Jamil Ahmed while addressing the first passing-out parade of 1,085 policemen at the Recruitment Training Centre (RTC) in Hyderabad District on March 25 said that the Sindh Police has chalked out a plan under which army personnel will impart anti-terrorism training to 350 Policemen of the Province, reports Dawn. He said that the Police training department had proposed to the Sindh Government to allocate PKR150 per recruit for food in the mess of the centre and after the approval, free food would be provided to recruits. He said the Government was trying to impart quality training to policemen and added that they would be given counterterrorism training so that they could protect the life and property of people.
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March - 27 
A jirga of tribal elders on March 27 expressed reservations over the draft of an agreement provided to them by the political administration in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), proposing several restrictions as well as responsibilities for them for maintain
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A jirga of tribal elders on March 27 expressed reservations over the draft of an agreement provided to them by the political administration in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), proposing several restrictions as well as responsibilities for them for maintaining peace in the once militants-dominated tribal Agency, reports Dawn. The administration is seeking an undertaking from local tribes to ensure peace in the area. Sources said that the elders were told in categorical terms that return to their respective areas was condition to signing of the deal and furnishing the undertakings by them. The eight-page draft agreement handed over to all the tribes in NWA describes the roles of the Government and the people to put brake on resurgent of militancy in the region.
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March - 27 
According to sources in the Federal Ministry of Interior, Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) with the collaboration of some other banned outfits is planning to attack the country’s water reservoirs, dams and barrages, reported The News on March 28 (today). After receiving information regarding the proba
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According to sources in the Federal Ministry of Interior, Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) with the collaboration of some other banned outfits is planning to attack the country’s water reservoirs, dams and barrages, reported The News on March 28 (today). After receiving information regarding the probable attack by Taliban on the water reservoirs of country, security has been tightened at all dams and barrages. Following the threat, the Interior Ministry directed all the Law Enforcing Agencies and all the Provincial Home Departments for heightened security on water reservoirs
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March - 30 
The Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on March 30 said the Karachi operation was a debt that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N)-led Government had paid off, reports The News. Addressing a seminar at the WAPDA House, he said that the Government took major decisions like the Operation Zarb-e-Azb i
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The Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on March 30 said the Karachi operation was a debt that the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N)-led Government had paid off, reports The News. Addressing a seminar at the WAPDA House, he said that the Government took major decisions like the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan and also launched a targeted operation in Karachi to eliminate terrorism and crime.
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April - 1 
According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on April 1, the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif said that the Pakistan Army would not stop short of accomplishing its mission to eliminate terrorism, irrespective of the cost, reports The Express Tribu
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According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on April 1, the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif said that the Pakistan Army would not stop short of accomplishing its mission to eliminate terrorism, irrespective of the cost, reports The Express Tribune. He said that the military is fully prepared to deter and defeat any form of aggression.
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April - 2 
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on April 2 in a message on a micro-blogging site that the Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), General Raheel Sharif, confirmed the death sentence of the six hardcore terrorists, reports The News. These terrorist
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Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on April 2 in a message on a micro-blogging site that the Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), General Raheel Sharif, confirmed the death sentence of the six hardcore terrorists, reports The News. These terrorists were involved in heinous acts of terrorism, manslaughter, suicide bombings, loss of life and property. He said the convicted terrorists had the right to appeal in a court of appeal. The six convicts given death sentences were identified by a senior military official as Noor Saeed, Haider Ali, Murad Khan, Inayatullah, Israruddin and Qari Zahir. No further details were given on their individual cases, or when and where the trials were held.
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April - 2 
Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is set to expel some 11,000 illegal Afghan refugees under the National Action Plan against terrorism, said senior Police official Faheem Abbasi during a press conference in Muzaffarabad District on April 2, reports The Express Tribune. Pakistan plans to register t
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Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is set to expel some 11,000 illegal Afghan refugees under the National Action Plan against terrorism, said senior Police official Faheem Abbasi during a press conference in Muzaffarabad District on April 2, reports The Express Tribune. Pakistan plans to register the 1.4 million Afghan refugees currently living in the country illegally over the next four months, with a view to eventually repatriating them. Abbasi said the home department was also set to outlaw 64 militant outfits in Kashmir that are also banned in the rest of Pakistan, and create a new anti-terror force comprising 500 personnel.
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April - 2 
The Peshawar Police carried out 72 search operations, rounded up 3,233 illegally staying Afghans and lodged 32 cases for spreading hate material and 161 for misuse of loudspeakers since January 1, reports The News. The statistics show that the Police actions in Peshawar under the National Action Pla
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The Peshawar Police carried out 72 search operations, rounded up 3,233 illegally staying Afghans and lodged 32 cases for spreading hate material and 161 for misuse of loudspeakers since January 1, reports The News. The statistics show that the Police actions in Peshawar under the National Action Plan (NAP) are more than any other District of KP, and probably even in the country. The major reason is that the provincial capital of KP is more vulnerable as it is surrounded from three sides by the volatile tribal areas. According to the official statistics, 72 search and strike operations were carried out in Peshawar, including 32 in rural division, 25 in Cantonment and 15 in city division. During these operations, 146 small machine guns, 888 shotguns, 63 rifles and 851 pistols were recovered. The police authorities said action against hate material and the misuse of loudspeakers was also accelerated under the NAP. “We have lodged 161 cases for misuse of loudspeakers and 32 for spreading hate material under the NAP since January 1. As many as 33 accused were arrested for selling uniforms of security forces that can be misused in unlawful activities,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Mian Saeed Ahmad said.
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April - 5 
The Baloch Republican Party (BRP) on April 5 said that the four bullet-riddled dead bodies found in Goorbrath area of Nushki District on April 1, 2015, were of missing persons allegedly killed by SFs, reports Dawn. BRP spokesman Sher Mohammad Bugti said in a statement that the four had gone missing
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The Baloch Republican Party (BRP) on April 5 said that the four bullet-riddled dead bodies found in Goorbrath area of Nushki District on April 1, 2015, were of missing persons allegedly killed by SFs, reports Dawn. BRP spokesman Sher Mohammad Bugti said in a statement that the four had gone missing four months ago and the SFs after killing them left their bodies in a deserted place.
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April - 7 
Calling Dr Aafia Siddiqui the most important political prisoner of the present world, United States (US) lawyer Stephen Downs during a press conference in Lahore said that a new study titled, ‘Inventing Terrorists: The Lawfare of Preemptive Prosecution’, carried out in the US and jointly released by
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Calling Dr Aafia Siddiqui the most important political prisoner of the present world, United States (US) lawyer Stephen Downs during a press conference in Lahore said that a new study titled, ‘Inventing Terrorists: The Lawfare of Preemptive Prosecution’, carried out in the US and jointly released by Support And Legal Advocacy for Muslims (SALAM) and the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms (NCPCF), found that 94 per cent of those held in connection with terrorism cases after September 11, 2001 (also known as 9/11) attacks were unfairly prosecuted and Dr Aafia Siddiqui was at no. 2 in the list, reports Dawn. The study is the first to directly examine and critique preemptive prosecution and its abuses. The study’s authors are Albany attorneys Stephen Downs and Kathy Manley. Quoting from the study, Downs said “...the war on terror has been largely a charade designed to make the American public believe that a terrorist army is loose in the US, when the truth is that most of the people convicted of terrorism-related crimes posed no danger to the US and were entrapped by a preventive strategy known as preemptive prosecution.” He said Dr Aafia was the most well-known political prisoner in the world and the injustice and maltreatment she had received shocks the conscience. “We fail to understand why Pakistan has not asked for her repatriation. No political considerations could be strong enough to prolong her sufferings. We feel that this is not a difficult task if the political will is there. The world now knows that these preemptive prosecutions are actually a shameful fact and need to be rectified and there is no better place to start than with Dr Aafia.”
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April - 7 
The Foreign Office (FO) on April 9 welcomed a proposed billion-dollar arms deal with the United States and hoped that congressional approval would come through soon, reported Dawn. “Pakistan seeks to procure US military equipment to meet critical gaps in its defence capabilities; the proposed equipm
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The Foreign Office (FO) on April 9 welcomed a proposed billion-dollar arms deal with the United States and hoped that congressional approval would come through soon, reported Dawn. “Pakistan seeks to procure US military equipment to meet critical gaps in its defence capabilities; the proposed equipment will also help our campaign against terrorism,” said FO spokesperson Tasnim Aslam. The State Department on April 7, 2015, had approved the sale of attack helicopters, missiles and communications equipment worth USD 952 million and the Congress has been notified about the proposed sale. “By notifying the Congress of the proposed sale, the State Department is completing the US internal process in such cases. We hope the final clearance will come through soon. We welcome the notification by State Department,” the spokesperson said, adding, “This is recognition of Pakistan’s needs in counter-terrorism operation. The Congress would have one month to ask any additional questions and queries to the State Department. On the end of that the sale would be confirmed.”
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April - 10 
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, on April 10 called upon apprehending terrorists and their abettors from the urban areas of the country, reports The News. He expressed these views while chairing the 181st Corps Commanders Conference held at the General Headquarters. The con
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The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, on April 10 called upon apprehending terrorists and their abettors from the urban areas of the country, reports The News. He expressed these views while chairing the 181st Corps Commanders Conference held at the General Headquarters. The conference deliberated at length on the gravity of the situation in Yemen and stressed that continuation of the conflict would have serious implications for regional security. Addressing the forum, General Raheel Sharif expressed his complete satisfaction with the major gains recently achieved in the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb in Khyber Agency. He directed the commanders to maintain focus on achieving the end objective of total elimination of terrorism from across the country by coordinating with law enforcement and other Government agencies. “Intelligence based operations must be further intensified to unearth terrorist sleeper cells and apprehend the hiding terrorists and their abettors from urban centers as well,” COAS said.
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April - 10 
The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) on April 10 (today) issued a statement lamenting over the cancellation of Baloch human rights activist Mama Qadeer's talk, ‘Un-silencing Balochistan’, scheduld for April 9 at LUMS, saying that the talk was cancelled on orders from the Government,
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The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) on April 10 (today) issued a statement lamenting over the cancellation of Baloch human rights activist Mama Qadeer's talk, ‘Un-silencing Balochistan’, scheduld for April 9 at LUMS, saying that the talk was cancelled on orders from the Government, reports The Express Tribune. “…Under the re-mapping justice series, an event scheduled at LUMS for the April 9, 2015, had to be cancelled on orders from the Government, which was most unfortunate indeed,” read the statement issued by LUMS. The statement adds that LUMS is committed to working with the Government to find a way to allow the university to hold analytical talks on various topics that need to be debated in an objective and unbiased manner. “We are proud that all such discussions have taken place in an academic environment that is collegial and respectful of all citizens, as well as diverging points of view,” said the University statement.
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April - 10 
The Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani said on April 10 that Pakistan has apprehended more than 18,000 people belonging to various extremist organisations in just the last three months, reports The News. “Zarb-e-Azb focused on foreign militants, but to rid the country of the menace,
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The Pakistan’s ambassador to the US Jalil Abbas Jilani said on April 10 that Pakistan has apprehended more than 18,000 people belonging to various extremist organisations in just the last three months, reports The News. “Zarb-e-Azb focused on foreign militants, but to rid the country of the menace, the government has targeted various home grown organizations who were involved in extremism and violence,” the ambassador said.
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April - 12 
States on April 12 warned Pakistan that there may be consequences for freeing Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) 'commander' and mastermind of Mumbai 2008 terror attacks (also known as 26/11), Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, reports Dawn. On April 11, 2015, the Lahore High Court (LHC) set aside official orders to keep La
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States on April 12 warned Pakistan that there may be consequences for freeing Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) 'commander' and mastermind of Mumbai 2008 terror attacks (also known as 26/11), Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, reports Dawn. On April 11, 2015, the Lahore High Court (LHC) set aside official orders to keep Lakhvi in prison and set him free. Later on April 12, 2015, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam blamed India for the release, saying that New Delhi’s “inordinate delay” in providing evidence of Lakhvi’s involvement in the attack “weakened the prosecution’s case”. At the State Department, spokesperson Jeff Rathke indicated that such explanations were not enough to satisfy the US administration. “We are gravely concerned about the release on bail of alleged Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi,” he said, adding, “We have communicated that concern to senior Pakistani officials over the course of many months, and as recently as yesterday.” “We urge Pakistan to follow through on that commitment to ensure justice for the 166 innocent people, including six Americans, who lost their lives,” he said. Asked if the US could also take steps, such as cancelling the billion-dollar arms deal announced on April 7, 2015, to persuade Pakistan to re-arrest Lakhvi, the official said: “I’m not going to speculate about consequences or repercussions from the podium, but I think I’ve made clear that we’re gravely concerned about this development.” The State Department official, however, refused to say how soon the States would take measures, if any, to bring Lakhvi back in the prison. “I’m not going to put a timeline on it. But certainly, bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks to justice is a key priority. And we stand by that. So we’ll continue working in that direction,” he said.
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April - 12 
The al Qaeda Indian in Subcontinent (AQIS) on April 12 said that a series of American drone strikes have killed nearly 50 of its members, including two senior leaders, over the past few months, reports The Express Tribune. Deputy head AQIS Ustad Ahmad Farooq and Qari Imran, the group’s central counc
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The al Qaeda Indian in Subcontinent (AQIS) on April 12 said that a series of American drone strikes have killed nearly 50 of its members, including two senior leaders, over the past few months, reports The Express Tribune. Deputy head AQIS Ustad Ahmad Farooq and Qari Imran, the group’s central council member and in charge of al Qaeda in Afghanistan, were killed in separate US drone attacks in North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on January 5 and 15 respectively, AQIS ‘spokesperson’ Usama Mehmood said in an audio message. The audio was emailed to the media on April 12. “Mujahideen al Qaeda had been the main target of the drone strikes since the security forces have launched military operation in North Waziristan in June last year. Taliban also came under attack but the real target was al Qaeda,” the AQIS spokesperson said. Mehmood said several senior al Qaeda leaders and members were killed in the strikes, adding the Americans specifically focused on the al Qaeda Subcontinent and 10 out of 11 drones hit AQIS. He confirmed the drone attacks have killed around 50 al Qaeda members and a similar number of their local supporters.
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April - 15 
Former US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter claimed on April 15 that “Pakistan probably didn’t know about Osama bin Laden as there is no evidence to suggest there was a link”, reports Dawn. Giving a talk at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs on re-envisioning US-Pak relations, the former a
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Former US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter claimed on April 15 that “Pakistan probably didn’t know about Osama bin Laden as there is no evidence to suggest there was a link”, reports Dawn. Giving a talk at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs on re-envisioning US-Pak relations, the former ambassador presented a prologue to the year 2011 which he says was “a terrible year if you happen to be an ambassador to Pakistan”. Mr Munter said Pakistan probably didn’t know about OBL’s presence. “Because everything was taken out during the raid and if there was a link it is hard to imagine there would have been no trace of that.” The raid and its implications made cooperation between the two countries difficult, the former ambassador said.
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April - 15 
Lashkar-e-Toiba founder and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) 'chief', Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while addressing a public meeting in Gujranwala District on April 15 asked workers to stress members of Parliament to withdraw the resolution of neutrality and announce support to Saudi Arabia in the ongoing conflict, rep
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Lashkar-e-Toiba founder and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) 'chief', Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while addressing a public meeting in Gujranwala District on April 15 asked workers to stress members of Parliament to withdraw the resolution of neutrality and announce support to Saudi Arabia in the ongoing conflict, reports The News. Hafiz Saeed said that the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen was a war between right and wrong and all Muslims should stand by Saudi Arabia. He said only ignorant people term it others’ war, it is our war and we should stand by Saudi Arabia against the rebels of Yemen. He announced a drive from Gujranwala to contact masses to create an awareness in this regard. Saeed said it is our moral and religious duty to defend the holy places and stand by Saudi Arabia in the war again rebels and help restore the lawful government in Yemen.
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April - 16 
Leader of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) Abdul Qadeer Baloch, also known as Mama Qadeer, during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club in Karachi on April 16 claimed that five of the 13 suspected militants killed by Security Forces (SFs) on April 13, 2015, and accused of having be
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Leader of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) Abdul Qadeer Baloch, also known as Mama Qadeer, during a press conference at the Karachi Press Club in Karachi on April 16 claimed that five of the 13 suspected militants killed by Security Forces (SFs) on April 13, 2015, and accused of having been involved in the murder of 20 labourers in Turbat District on April 10, 2015, had been missing for the past few months, reported Dawn. Mama Qadeer said it was not the first time that SFs had come up with such a claim after killing people in custody. “At least five of those 13 men killed were missing for the past few months,” he said, adding, “They all were picked up from different areas of Turbat District. Their families had reasons to believe that they were in custody of agencies.” He said the names of the five young men were registered with his group as ‘missing Baloch persons’ and that institutions concerned as well as some human rights’ organisations were aware of their enforced disappearance. He further said that for a couple of years security agencies had been killing people in their custody after every attack carried out by militant groups. He said the situation in Balochistan was constantly deteriorating and both the Federal and Provincial Governments were appeared helpless in resolving the issue of missing persons.
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April - 17 
The Director General of ISPR, Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, on April 17 tweeted quoting Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif as saying that Pakistan and Afghanistan will continue targeting terrorists on the their respective sides of the border, ensuring total denial of space to te
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The Director General of ISPR, Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, on April 17 tweeted quoting Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif as saying that Pakistan and Afghanistan will continue targeting terrorists on the their respective sides of the border, ensuring total denial of space to terror elements, reports The News. General Raheel Sharif expressed these views during his meeting with the Afghan National Army’s Chief of General Staff General Sher Mohammad Karimi, who called on him at the General Headquarters here on Friday, the ISPR press release said. During the meeting, the matters related to peace and stability in the region, especially in Afghanistan, Pak-Afghan border management and measures to further enhance defence and training cooperation between both the armies were discussed.
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April - 18 
The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder and Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) 'chief' Hafiz Muhammad Saeed on April 18 admitted that his organisation helps the Pakistan Army in supporting Kashmiris, reports Zee News. Speaking during an interview with Pakistan's Channel 24, Saeed said, “There are lakhs of people in Ka
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The Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) founder and Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) 'chief' Hafiz Muhammad Saeed on April 18 admitted that his organisation helps the Pakistan Army in supporting Kashmiris, reports Zee News. Speaking during an interview with Pakistan's Channel 24, Saeed said, “There are lakhs of people in Kashmir who are demanding freedom. If the Indian government resorts to firing then we will also retaliate in a strong manner.” “We support Pakistan, Pakistan government and Pakistan Army in their effort to help the people of Kashmir who don't have freedom. And we call it jihad,” he added. Saeed said further, “Pakistan and its government have always maintained that people of Kashmir should get their rights. Whatever the Pakistani government does to achieve this is jihad for us and we support Pakistan, Pakistani government and Pakistani forces.”
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April - 20 
Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United States (US), Hussain Haqqani, strongly opposed the use of American military aid to fight extremists in Pakistan and said instead it will fuel conflict in South Asia, reports Dawn. The Obama administration on April 7, 2015, announced to sell almost USD 1 bil
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Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United States (US), Hussain Haqqani, strongly opposed the use of American military aid to fight extremists in Pakistan and said instead it will fuel conflict in South Asia, reports Dawn. The Obama administration on April 7, 2015, announced to sell almost USD 1 billion worth of attack helicopters, missiles and other equipment to Pakistan. Haqqani said, “Pakistan’s failure to tackle its jihadist challenge is not the result of a lack of arms but reflects an absence of will," adding, "With nuclear weapons, Pakistan no longer has any reason to feel insecure about being overrun by a larger Indian conventional force. For the US to continue supplying a Pakistani military that is much larger than the country can afford, will only invigorate Pakistani militancy and militarism at the expense of its 200 million people, one-third of whom continue to live at less than a dollar a day per household.” The former ambassador said that unless Pakistan changes its worldview, American weapons will end up being used to fight or menace India and perceived domestic enemies instead of being deployed against jihadists. “Competition with India remains the overriding consideration in Pakistan’s foreign and domestic policies. By aiding Pakistan over the years, some USD 40 billion since 1950, according to the Congressional Research Service, the US has fed Pakistan’s delusion of being India’s regional military equal. Seeking security against a much larger neighbour is a rational objective but seeking parity with it on a constant basis is not. Instead of selling more military equipment to Pakistan, US officials should convince Pakistan that its ambitions of rivaling India are akin to Belgium trying to rival France or Germany, he said.
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April - 20 
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on April 20 claimed to have successfully test fired its first ‘indigenously developed’ missile named as ‘Omar-1’, reports Times of India. To justify its claim, the TTP has issued a statement and posted a video demonstrating the launch of missile. In the vide
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The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on April 20 claimed to have successfully test fired its first ‘indigenously developed’ missile named as ‘Omar-1’, reports Times of India. To justify its claim, the TTP has issued a statement and posted a video demonstrating the launch of missile. In the video, different parts of the missile were assembled before its launch. The TTP said that special feature of ‘Omar-1’ is its design. "It can easily be assembled and dissembled in accordance to the situation," said Muhammad Khorasani, the TTP ‘spokesman’. Khorasani said the effectiveness of the specially-designed missile would certainly surprise the targeted enemy. "With the grace of God, you'll soon see our enemies on the run," he said. The spokesman further said that engineering unit of the TTP has the capability to develop modern lethal weapons. "We are training our fighters to get maximum results from the use of technology, including suicide vests, suicide vehicles, hand grenades, anti-jammer devices and so on,” he added.
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April - 21 
The KP Police has trained 10,727 guards to provide security to the various educational institutions while 10,610 more are waiting for their turn to get training, officials said on April 21, reports The News. In the backdrop of attack on the Army Public School and College in Peshawar in December 16,
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The KP Police has trained 10,727 guards to provide security to the various educational institutions while 10,610 more are waiting for their turn to get training, officials said on April 21, reports The News. In the backdrop of attack on the Army Public School and College in Peshawar in December 16, 2014, security arrangements of educational institutions across the province were reviewed. On the request of the administration of educational institutions, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has imparted training to 10,727 guards across the province so far. Of them, 3,973 guards were trained in Hazara Region, Bannu Region 2,192, Mardan Region 1,938, Malakand Region 1,306, Kohat 709, Dera Ismail Khan 516 and Peshawar 93. Those who received training included teachers, security guards, watchmen and retired personnel of different security forces.
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April - 22 
Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on April 22 said Operation Zarb-e-Azb has proved very successful in eliminating terrorism from the country and the operation against militants will continue until the country is purged of the menace of terrorism, reports The News. Addressing a ‘Po
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Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on April 22 said Operation Zarb-e-Azb has proved very successful in eliminating terrorism from the country and the operation against militants will continue until the country is purged of the menace of terrorism, reports The News. Addressing a ‘Police-Darbar’ gathering at the Police Lines headquarters in Islamabad, the Minister said the war against terrorism will continue till the elimination of the last terrorist. Over 500 operations have been launched against terrorists under National Action Plan but the war against terror has not ended yet, adding that though the enemies have run away but they are still planning attack and threats are still there.
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April - 23 
One American and one Italian who had been held hostage by al Qaeda in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan were killed in a US counterterrorism operation in January, the White House said on April 23, reports The Express Tribune. The operation in which American doctor Warren Weinstein and It
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One American and one Italian who had been held hostage by al Qaeda in the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan were killed in a US counterterrorism operation in January, the White House said on April 23, reports The Express Tribune. The operation in which American doctor Warren Weinstein and Italian Giovanni Lo Porto were killed also resulted in the death of an American al Qaeda leader, Ahmed Farouq, the White House said. Another American al Qaeda member, Adam Gadahn, also was killed, likely in a separate operation, the White House added. In a written statement, the White House expressed “tremendous sorrow” over the hostage deaths and said the United States had no reason to believe hostages were at the al Qaeda related compound targeted in the operation. Weinstein was abducted in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2011 while working for a US consulting firm. Al Qaeda had asked to trade him for members of the militant group being held by the United States. Weinstein was seen in videos released in May 2012 December 2013, asking for US president Barrack Obama to intervene on his behalf and saying he was suffering from heart problems and asthma. Italian aid worker Lo Porto has been missing in Pakistan since January 2012. Lo Porto, who was from Palermo, Sicily, was kidnapped three days after arriving in Pakistan on January 19, 2012, to work for a German organization building houses for victims of a 2010 flood. Another man was kidnapped with him but later separated and freed in October 2014 by German Special Forces.
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April - 26 
Highlighting the role of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the ongoing Operation Zarb-i-Azb and its vision beyond 2025, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman said on April 26 that the PAF would play a lead role in rooting out terrorism from the country, reports Dawn. Addressing fighter pilo
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Highlighting the role of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in the ongoing Operation Zarb-i-Azb and its vision beyond 2025, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman said on April 26 that the PAF would play a lead role in rooting out terrorism from the country, reports Dawn. Addressing fighter pilots and officers of the PAF at a ceremony held in Sargodha, he said the force would always live up to the expectations of the nation while safeguarding the aerial frontiers of the motherland. He said the indigenisation and procurement of sophisticated weapons systems would have been a distant dream without the unflinching dedication and visionary leadership of the PAF in the bygone years.
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April - 27 
Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on April 27 that the Karachi operation will meet its logical end, reports The News. He said harmony among the civil armed forces, intelligence and security agencies of the country will be created in order to overcome the security challenges.
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Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on April 27 that the Karachi operation will meet its logical end, reports The News. He said harmony among the civil armed forces, intelligence and security agencies of the country will be created in order to overcome the security challenges. The Minister was expressing these views while chairing a meeting of the top hierarchy of civil armed forces at the Interior Ministry. He observed that the civil armed forces were playing a critical role in maintaining the security of the country. He paid tributes to the martyrs of the civil armed forces and said they were the real heroes of the nation. Pakistan is indebted to them and ‘we owe it forward their legacy but also to respect their memories and take care of their heirs’. He said at time when the country was faced with many challenges and there seems chaos at every level, there is still respect for uniform.
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April - 28 
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif while addressing a gathering of army officers in the Bahawalpur Cantonment on April 28 said that stability was returning to the country due to the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan Agency and surrounding areas of Feder
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The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif while addressing a gathering of army officers in the Bahawalpur Cantonment on April 28 said that stability was returning to the country due to the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan Agency and surrounding areas of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), reported The News. “A peaceful environment in and around Pakistan is our top priority,” Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted the army chief as saying on social networking site Twitter. The Army Chief said the enemy forces could not take Pakistan army’s focus away from targeting terrorism in the FATA, adding that Security Forces were breaking linkage of terrorists in the rest of the country. “No challenge is insurmountable. Let’s take Pakistan forward. Our greatest asset, the youth, must be encouraged and honed," he said.
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April - 29 
Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on April 29 said that the recent pattern of target killings in Karachi indicates a design and needs to be checked, adding that all mafias will be eliminated, reports The News. General Raheel directed the Intelligence Agencies and Rangers to tr
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Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on April 29 said that the recent pattern of target killings in Karachi indicates a design and needs to be checked, adding that all mafias will be eliminated, reports The News. General Raheel directed the Intelligence Agencies and Rangers to trace, apprehend and expose the perpetrators as peace in Karachi is a priority for the revival of the city’s economic vibrancy and the well-being of its residents. “The Karachi operation is bringing relief in terms of target killings and extortion. The operation will remain across the board, indiscriminate and will continue till its logical conclusion,” he said.
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April - 29 
In a latest update on Sabeen Mahmud's killing, DIG-South Dr Jamil Ahmed while addressing a press conference on April 29 said that she might have been targeted by religious extremists, reports Dawn. “A strong possibility is that Sabeen was targeted by a banned militant outfit,” he said. In reply to a
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In a latest update on Sabeen Mahmud's killing, DIG-South Dr Jamil Ahmed while addressing a press conference on April 29 said that she might have been targeted by religious extremists, reports Dawn. “A strong possibility is that Sabeen was targeted by a banned militant outfit,” he said. In reply to a question, the Police Officer told the media that two years ago, ‘tension’ had been created over Valentine’s Day. He said Sabeen had played a ‘leading role’ in support of observing Valentine’s Day by holding a demonstration on Mai Kolachi Road. Since then, she had been receiving threats from ‘unknown quarters’, he added.
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April - 30 
An unnamed top security official on April 30 said that the Federal Government is seeking to approach five countries and the United Nations (UN) for the extradition of top Baloch insurgents accused of fomenting unrest in Balochistan, as the security agencies have identified 161 training camps of insu
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An unnamed top security official on April 30 said that the Federal Government is seeking to approach five countries and the United Nations (UN) for the extradition of top Baloch insurgents accused of fomenting unrest in Balochistan, as the security agencies have identified 161 training camps of insurgents, nearly two dozen of them are believed to be located in Afghanistan and two in Iran, reported The Express Tribune. “We are taking up the issue of Baloch insurgents with five countries [India, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Iran and Afghanistan],” said the official, adding that Dr Allah Nazar, Hyrbyair Marri, Brahumdagh Bugti, Javed Mengal and some other wanted insurgents are commanding their fighters in the province. He further said, “The Afghan Government has assured Pakistan its full support to stop Baloch insurgents from operating from its soil,” adding, “Pakistan is considering taking up the issue of Indian involvement in Balochistan unrest at the United Nations.” The official also said that the Government has requested Iran through its Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi to make maximum efforts to block the influence of some Baloch separatists operating from Iranian soil. “We have expanded the military operation in Balochistan,” the official said, adding that the paramilitary Frontier Corps is assisting the military in targeted operations against separatists. According to details, Hyrbyair Marri, the head of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), has been living in self-exile in the United Kingdom (UK) where he has been granted political asylum. Brahumdagh Bugti, the founder of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA), has been living in Switzerland seeking political asylum.
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April - 30 
While announcing the arrest of two terror suspects, Tahir alias Lamba and Mama Junaid, Malir-District Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwar on April 30 claimed that they were both members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and also worked for Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&
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While announcing the arrest of two terror suspects, Tahir alias Lamba and Mama Junaid, Malir-District Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwar on April 30 claimed that they were both members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and also worked for Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), reports Dawn. He further said that they were sent to India for training in the past. “MQM is a terrorist organization and it should be banned,” SSP Anwar said, while narrating that members of MQM went to India through Indian-held Kashmir where they were trained there by R&AW and to come back to Pakistan to spread terror. "We have solid evidence to prove these allegations. The two people we arrested have confessed all of this and they are ashamed of their activities. We recovered a large amount of explosives, hand grenades, 9mm pistols from these suspects. We will investigate further during the remand," he said, adding, “MQM is spreading terror in the guise of a political party, and all the senior leaders of MQM including its chief Altaf Hussain are involved in spreading terror in the country.” He further alleged that Zulfiqar Haider and Nadeem Nusrat, the deputy convener of MQM, have been funding these terrorist activities from London. Adding to the SSP's allegations, The News reported the statement of the death-row prisoner and former MQM worker Saulat Mirza, which was recorded a few days ago with the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), that MQM had links with India’s intelligence agency R&AW. According to the JIT report, Mirza said that funding to MQM came from R&AW. The report says that Mirza confessed to killing 13 people before the JIT and yet he was implicated in two murders only. Soon after, MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi, while addressing a press conference at MQM headquarters Nine Zero in Karachi on April 30, categorically denounced "baseless allegations" levelled against the party by SSP Malir Anwar Rao, reported Dawn. Later, hours after his allegations on April 30, SSP Malir Rao Anwar was suspended, reports The Express Tribune. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah took notice of this unusual press conference and abuse of authority, following which Inspector General (IG) Sindh suspended SSP Rao and ordered him to report to the Central Police Office. Meanwhile, SSP East Peer Muhammad Shah has been given additional charge of District Malir.
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May - 1 
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on May 1 said that the Karachi operation is part of the Government’s efforts to eliminate terrorism from the country, which is achieving good results, reports Daily Times. The PM said that “The people of Karachi are now more satisfied as the incidents of street crime
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Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on May 1 said that the Karachi operation is part of the Government’s efforts to eliminate terrorism from the country, which is achieving good results, reports Daily Times. The PM said that “The people of Karachi are now more satisfied as the incidents of street crimes, terrorism, extortion and target killings have decreased. The lights of Karachi are being restored,” he remarked. Nawaz Sharif said it was the Government’s top priority to ensure the establishment of peace in the country. He said that the sanctuaries of terrorists had been destroyed and eliminated in North Waziristan and peace restored there. The Government, he added, was striving to establish peace across the country.
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May - 3 
Dawn on May 4 (today) reported that although officials claim that most areas of North Waziristan Agency have been cleared of the militants, yet return process of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to the conflict stricken tribal area is going at a snail’s pace. Officials said that only 230 disp
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Dawn on May 4 (today) reported that although officials claim that most areas of North Waziristan Agency have been cleared of the militants, yet return process of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to the conflict stricken tribal area is going at a snail’s pace. Officials said that only 230 displaced families had returned to their native area in some pockets of North Waziristan since the repatriation program was launched on March 31, 2015. An official dealing with the return process of IDPs in FATA said that the unregistered families had also gone back to their homes. He admitted that the return of IDPs to North Waziristan was going very slow as compared to that of Khyber Agency.
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May - 3 
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid while talking to the media after attending a literature conference at Arts Council in Karachi on May 3 said that the military leadership is also a part of the Government and national security policies are made with its advice, reports
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Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid while talking to the media after attending a literature conference at Arts Council in Karachi on May 3 said that the military leadership is also a part of the Government and national security policies are made with its advice, reports The News.
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May - 4 
In an effort to control the flow of arms, the Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on May 4 decided to put a complete ban on the import of prohibited weapons in the country, reports The Express Tribune. “It was proposed that a complete ban on import of prohibited weapons should be pu
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In an effort to control the flow of arms, the Federal Minister of Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on May 4 decided to put a complete ban on the import of prohibited weapons in the country, reports The Express Tribune. “It was proposed that a complete ban on import of prohibited weapons should be put in place,” an official statement read. According to the decision, only the Ministry of Defence Production and security Agencies should be allowed to import such weapons. The Interior Minister also proposed that individuals and entities, who are qualified for such weapons, can procure them only through Pakistan Ordnance Factory in Wah. Further, the interior ministry declared that that all manual licences, which have not been verified, would be invalidated after December 31, 2015. The meeting also decided that “nobody under the age of 25 years should be issued arms license.” The Minister observed that the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) is regulating all the existing arms licences. “But a comprehensive mechanism should be put in place to regulate and monitor the flow of arms into the country,” he added.
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May - 10 
An unnamed senior Army Officer on May 10 said that the military has destroyed all the command and control centres of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Darra Adamkhel in Kohat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas, reports Dawn. He said t
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An unnamed senior Army Officer on May 10 said that the military has destroyed all the command and control centres of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Darra Adamkhel in Kohat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and adjoining Orakzai Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas, reports Dawn. He said that the law and order situation had gradually improved during the last few years and it was much better these days. He said that there was negligible threat to the public and military now.
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May - 11 
Former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf’s Chief of Staff Lieutenant General (retired) Hamid Javed said that the army was not aware of the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, reported The News. Commenting on report of a US journalist, he said that nobody, including the army, was awar
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Former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf’s Chief of Staff Lieutenant General (retired) Hamid Javed said that the army was not aware of the presence of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, reported The News. Commenting on report of a US journalist, he said that nobody, including the army, was aware of Osama’s presence as long as he remained the Chief of Staff in the Presidency. The US vice president visited Pakistan in 2007 to raise issue of Osama’s presence in Pakistan but his talks with Musharraf was limited to two points. He told Musharraf that Osama is in Chitral, according to US intelligence report and Musharraf replied that Pakistan will check the information as they did not have any such information.
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May - 11 
Officials in the provincial Home Department on May 11 said that they had received directive from the Federal Government strengthen legislation on hate speech and extremist material, repots Dawn. In the directive, Islamabad had asked the Provinces, apart from making laws to curb rampant hate speech a
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Officials in the provincial Home Department on May 11 said that they had received directive from the Federal Government strengthen legislation on hate speech and extremist material, repots Dawn. In the directive, Islamabad had asked the Provinces, apart from making laws to curb rampant hate speech and heaps of extremist material within their remit, to make sure that there was no abuse of the loudspeaker, which most extremists, posing as religious scholars, employed as an effective tool to brainwash young minds.
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May - 11 
The White House on May 11 flatly rejected claims that Pakistan was told in advance about Operation Geronimo that killed the then al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad hideout, reports The News. Veteran United States (US) journalist Seymour Hersh claimed in London Review of Books that Pak
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The White House on May 11 flatly rejected claims that Pakistan was told in advance about Operation Geronimo that killed the then al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad hideout, reports The News. Veteran United States (US) journalist Seymour Hersh claimed in London Review of Books that Pakistan’s security services not only knew about the raid, but had been holding bin Laden prisoner since 2006. That account was rejected by the White House. "This was a US operation through and through," said Edward Price, a White House National Security Council spokesman. "The notion that the operation" which killed the 9/11 mastermind, "was anything but a unilateral US mission is patently false," he said, adding, "Knowledge of this operation was confined to a very small circle of senior US officials." "The President decided early on not to inform any other Government, including the Pakistani Government, which was not notified until after the raid had occurred."
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May - 14 
India on May 14 said it was the "irresponsible and inefficient" handling by various agencies in Pakistan which led to the release of 26/11 (November 26, 2008) Mumbai (Maharashtra) terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi from jail, reports PTI. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju also said,
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India on May 14 said it was the "irresponsible and inefficient" handling by various agencies in Pakistan which led to the release of 26/11 (November 26, 2008) Mumbai (Maharashtra) terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi from jail, reports PTI. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju also said, "We have given all relevant papers, all evidence against Lakhvi. But Pakistani agencies did not produce these evidence properly before court, which resulted in his release from jail. They handled the case in a very irresponsible and inefficient manner".
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May - 15 
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while delivering Friday sermon at Jamia Qudsia mosque on Lytton Road in Lahore District on May 15 warned that without eliminating the secret interference of United States and India in the country, neither the terroris
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Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while delivering Friday sermon at Jamia Qudsia mosque on Lytton Road in Lahore District on May 15 warned that without eliminating the secret interference of United States and India in the country, neither the terrorism nor the Karachi-like killings could be controlled, reports The News. It was the duty of Government and the Law Enforcing Agencies to trace and arrest the secret enemy agents and their operatives and expose their identities and patrons before the whole nation. Hafiz Saeed warned the rulers against taking heavy foreign loans on high interest rates for continuing their own luxuries at the expense of the poor who would have to pay those loans back in the shape of huge taxes and duties. Further he said, the rulers must abolish interest based economy to invite the mercy of Allah Almighty for bringing back the progress and prosperity as promised by Him. He said enemies were continuously hatching conspiracies against the Muslims and targeting the Ismaili community was also the part of the same plot to provoke different groups into fighting against each other in the country.
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May - 17 
Over 4,634 suspects and 4,695 unregistered Afghan national were arrested as more than 138 search and strike operations were carried out in Peshawar alone under the National Action Plan (NAP), said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Peshawar Dr Mian Saeed Ahmad on May 17, reports The Ne
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Over 4,634 suspects and 4,695 unregistered Afghan national were arrested as more than 138 search and strike operations were carried out in Peshawar alone under the National Action Plan (NAP), said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Peshawar Dr Mian Saeed Ahmad on May 17, reports The News. According to statistics compiled from January 1 to May 5, 2015, as many as 175 Afghan prayer leaders were removed, 42 people were arrested for spreading hate material and 238 were rounded up for misusing loudspeakers in Peshawar. A number of search operations were carried out in Saddar and surrounding areas, Hayatabad and the surburban Peshawar during the last couple of days after reports emerged about serious threats of terror attacks. Security in the provincial capital has been put on high alert and over 80 suspects, including Afghan nationals were rounded up in actions during the last three days. “As many as 138 search and strike operations were carried out in Peshawar, including 51 in the rural division, 45 in cantonment division and 42 in city division. During these operations, 197 small machineguns, 910 shotguns, 106 rifles and 1,251 pistols were recovered,” said SSP Saeed Ahmad.
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May - 18 
After the surfacing of a report on May 18, 2015, which claimed Saudi Arabia wanted to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan, a defense official of the Kingdom on May 19 dismissed it as mere “speculation”, reports The Express Tribune. The Sunday Times of London had published a report which claimed that S
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After the surfacing of a report on May 18, 2015, which claimed Saudi Arabia wanted to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan, a defense official of the Kingdom on May 19 dismissed it as mere “speculation”, reports The Express Tribune. The Sunday Times of London had published a report which claimed that Saudi Arabia had “taken the ‘strategic decision’ to acquire ‘off-the-shelf’ atomic weapons from Pakistan,” citing unnamed American officials, in a bid to counter Iran after the recent nuclear deal it reached with the West. A Saudi Defense Ministry official, however, said that such reports were not new. “I don’t understand what the story is. This has been in the news for 18 years and will continue to be for the next 15 years.” “The ministry does not comment on rumors and speculation,” the official added. “It has committed never to acquire nuclear weapons, and to apply full international safeguards to all peaceful nuclear activities,” the official said, adding, “We attach great importance to Saudi Arabia’s continued implementation of these commitments.”
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May - 18 
An unnamed UK military official said that Western military leaders “all assume the Saudis have made the decision to go nuclear” and warned that this could spur on others. “The fear is that other Middle Eastern powers, Turkey and Egypt, may feel compelled to do the same and we will see a new, even mo
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An unnamed UK military official said that Western military leaders “all assume the Saudis have made the decision to go nuclear” and warned that this could spur on others. “The fear is that other Middle Eastern powers, Turkey and Egypt, may feel compelled to do the same and we will see a new, even more dangerous, arms race.”
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May - 18 
Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif while witnessing the concluding ceremony of the 4th Army Physical Agility and Combat Efficiency System (PACES) Championship at Kharian in Gujrat District of Punjab Province on May 18 said, “Our performance in recent operations has been phenomenal
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Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif while witnessing the concluding ceremony of the 4th Army Physical Agility and Combat Efficiency System (PACES) Championship at Kharian in Gujrat District of Punjab Province on May 18 said, “Our performance in recent operations has been phenomenal and we have cleansed large remote areas of terrorists in the most treacherous terrain and in the most trying circumstances owing to fitness and professionalism of our officers and men," reports Daily Times. “This makes us the most accomplished army that the world now recognises and the nation rightly takes pride in,” added CoAS.
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May - 18 
Saudi Arabia has been in discussion with Pakistan over the acquisition of a nuclear weapon, according to an unnamed United States (US) defence official, reports Daily Times quoting the official from The Sunday Times. “For the Saudis, the moment has come,” he said, adding, “There has been a longstand
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Saudi Arabia has been in discussion with Pakistan over the acquisition of a nuclear weapon, according to an unnamed United States (US) defence official, reports Daily Times quoting the official from The Sunday Times. “For the Saudis, the moment has come,” he said, adding, “There has been a longstanding agreement in place with the Pakistanis, and the House of Saud has now made the strategic decision to move forward.” He denied “any actual weaponry has been transferred yet”, but warned that “the Saudis mean what they say and they will do what they say”. “Whatever the Iranians have, we will have, too,” former Saudi Intelligence head Prince Turki bin Faisal had said at a conference held by the South Korean-based Asan Institute for Policy Studies, adding that any deal between Iran and the West over their nuclear program “opens the door to nuclear proliferation, not closes it, as was the initial intention”.
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May - 18 
England’s former Foreign Secretary Lord David Owen told The Sunday Times, “Nuclear weapons programs are extremely expensive and there’s no question that a lot of the funding of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program was provided by Saudi Arabia.” “Given their close relations and close military links, it
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England’s former Foreign Secretary Lord David Owen told The Sunday Times, “Nuclear weapons programs are extremely expensive and there’s no question that a lot of the funding of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program was provided by Saudi Arabia.” “Given their close relations and close military links, it’s long been assumed that if the Saudis wanted, they would call in a commitment, moral or otherwise, for Pakistan to supply them immediately with nuclear warheads,” Owen added.
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May - 20 
A Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa on May 20 pointed out the dangers of upholding sectarianism if the court were to interpret legal issues in light of the Constitution as it exists today, as opposed to its original form, which did not contain the word ‘sect’, reports Dawn. “Sectarianism is a curs
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A Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa on May 20 pointed out the dangers of upholding sectarianism if the court were to interpret legal issues in light of the Constitution as it exists today, as opposed to its original form, which did not contain the word ‘sect’, reports Dawn. “Sectarianism is a curse,” said Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a member of the 17-judge full court of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk that is hearing challenges to the 18th and 21st amendment. “If we [institutionalise] sectarianism, we will die at the hands of our own. This is what we have been witnessing in the Muslim world today as well,” Justice Isa deplored. The judge’s observations came against the backdrop of an explanation of Article 227 of the Constitution, added through the third amendment under Presidential Order 14 of 1980. The explanation suggested the application of the personal law of any Muslim sect to adherents of that faith, saying that the expression “Quran and Sunnah” will mean the Holy Quran and Sunnah as interpreted by that particular sect. “If the government wants to abolish sectarianism, it would have to revert to the original Constitution,” Justice Isa emphasised. Concurring with the observation, Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja recalled that the explanation of the word ‘sect’ was not part of the original 1973 constitution, but was added later by a military dictator, a reference to General Ziaul Haq.
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May - 20 
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nasir Khan Durrani on May 20 ruled out presence of militants in any religious seminary in the provincial capital and elsewhere in the province, saying that all the seminaries had been cleared of outlaws, reports The News. “All the Afghan
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The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nasir Khan Durrani on May 20 ruled out presence of militants in any religious seminary in the provincial capital and elsewhere in the province, saying that all the seminaries had been cleared of outlaws, reports The News. “All the Afghan prayer leaders have been removed from mosques and seminaries across the province,” he said. He said the Provincial Government has made legislation for maintenance of peace in the province and the police were ensuring strict implementation of the laws. Nasir Durrani said that a series of search operations was underway in different parts of the province. “Strict directives have been issued to the police officials to take the local elders into confidence during the crackdown,” he maintained.
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May - 21 
The Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif during a visit to the Command and Staff College in Quetta on May 21 said that a ‘favourable political atmosphere’ is being built in the country following the launch of military offensive Zarb-e-Azb against terrorism in the tribal belt, reports
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The Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif during a visit to the Command and Staff College in Quetta on May 21 said that a ‘favourable political atmosphere’ is being built in the country following the launch of military offensive Zarb-e-Azb against terrorism in the tribal belt, reports The News. He said the armed forces of the country have gained ‘magnificent achievements’ during Operation Zarb-e-Azb. The army chief said successes achieved in the military offensive have created a favourable atmosphere for an actual and long-lasting conclusion of the war against terrorism. He, however, said conventional methods of warfare and retaliation were no longer plausible for tackling threats being faced by the country. “It’s not only Army that engages in battles rather nations’ cooperation is also required,” he said.
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May - 21 
During a briefing to the Senate on May 21 Director General (DG) Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar said that the terrorists have formed separate cells to target Police Officers on one hand and scholars and vulnerable groups on the other hand, reports The Express Tribune. “One of the central issues re
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During a briefing to the Senate on May 21 Director General (DG) Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar said that the terrorists have formed separate cells to target Police Officers on one hand and scholars and vulnerable groups on the other hand, reports The Express Tribune. “One of the central issues related to law and order in Karachi is illegal weapons,” he said, adding, “A large number of weapons of prohibited bore have been issued to people.” “Even law enforcers don’t have such sophisticated weapons,” he said. He further said that the paramilitary force is ready to purge Karachi of illicit weapons.
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May - 22 
Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) FC Brigadier Mohammad Tahir a during a news briefing at the FC Help Center in Kholia Phattack on May 22 said, “Frontier Corps [FC] killed 29 militants associated with the Baloch separatist groups and the TTP, including two suicide bombe
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Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) FC Brigadier Mohammad Tahir a during a news briefing at the FC Help Center in Kholia Phattack on May 22 said, “Frontier Corps [FC] killed 29 militants associated with the Baloch separatist groups and the TTP, including two suicide bombers, during the search operation in the Province,” reports The Express Tribune. They also destroyed eight insurgents’ hideouts during the month-long operation, he added. The Home Minister said the TTP militants were sneaking into Balochistan from North Waziristan Agency where Zarb-e-Azb operation is in its decisive phase. But the FC did not let them set up camps in the Province, he added. “Frontier Corps saved Balochistan from a major disaster after recovering the huge cache of explosives and weapons in the province,” he added.
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May - 24 
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ also known as Islamic State, IS) group is recruiting fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan, reports Daily Times. General John F Campbell, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, said on May 24, “There’s recruiting going on in Afghanistan, there is recru
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The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ also known as Islamic State, IS) group is recruiting fighters in Afghanistan and Pakistan, reports Daily Times. General John F Campbell, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, said on May 24, “There’s recruiting going on in Afghanistan, there is recruiting going on in Pakistan.” He, however, added, “But they are not yet operational.” Referring to the Taliban he said, “What we are seeing is that Taliban are re-branding...and they see this is an opportunity to gain resources and attention.”
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May - 26 
Federal Minister for Water and Power and Defence, Khawaja Asif on May 26 alleged that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was fighting as India’s proxy against Pakistan, reported The News. He said that there has been a nexus between Indian Intelligence Agencies and terrorists operating in Pakistan. He
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Federal Minister for Water and Power and Defence, Khawaja Asif on May 26 alleged that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was fighting as India’s proxy against Pakistan, reported The News. He said that there has been a nexus between Indian Intelligence Agencies and terrorists operating in Pakistan. He further said that this has been the situation in Pakistan since it launched operation Zarb-e-Azb in the tribal belt against the local and foreign terrorists.
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May - 27 
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on May 27 said that the Government has decided to launch a grand targeted operation in the provincial capital to curb terrorism, reported The News. He said that Frontier Corps, Police, Levies and other intelligence and Law Enforcement Agencies would take
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Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on May 27 said that the Government has decided to launch a grand targeted operation in the provincial capital to curb terrorism, reported The News. He said that Frontier Corps, Police, Levies and other intelligence and Law Enforcement Agencies would take part in the operation. He said that patrolling has been increased and forces were being deployed at all important locations in Quetta to maintain law and order. "Nobody would be spared, strict action would be taken against terrorists", he further said.
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May - 28 
Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while addressing the passing out parade of 2,340 recruits of Frontier Constabulary reports at FC Training Centre in Shabqadar tehsil (revenue unit) of Charsadda District on May 28 said that ensuring peace in the country was prime responsibility o
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Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while addressing the passing out parade of 2,340 recruits of Frontier Constabulary reports at FC Training Centre in Shabqadar tehsil (revenue unit) of Charsadda District on May 28 said that ensuring peace in the country was prime responsibility of Frontier Constabulary, reports Dawn. He said that elements involved in violence would be dealt with iron hand. He said that it was the prime responsibility of the force to play effective role in bringing peace to specific areas of the country.
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May - 28 
The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah on May 28 said that no footprints of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS also known as Islamic State, IS) have been found in the country, reports Daily Times. He said that Pakistan’s security agencies are alert to take any action against terror
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The Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah on May 28 said that no footprints of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS also known as Islamic State, IS) have been found in the country, reports Daily Times. He said that Pakistan’s security agencies are alert to take any action against terrorists, if required. “The people of Pakistan have no ideological, ethnic or linguistic affinities with IS and its members,” he said. However, he added, some pamphlets and wall-chalking has been seen in some parts of the country. “There is no proof of presence of IS in Pakistan. Our security agencies are aware of the threat and will take appropriate measures if needed.”
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June - 2 
Meanwhile, Adviser to the PM on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz on June 2 said that India was fanning terrorism in Pakistan, reports The News. Sartaj Aziz said “Peace is multi-dimensional process. When India keeps violating ceasefire at the Line of Control and the Working Boundary,
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Meanwhile, Adviser to the PM on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz on June 2 said that India was fanning terrorism in Pakistan, reports The News. Sartaj Aziz said “Peace is multi-dimensional process. When India keeps violating ceasefire at the Line of Control and the Working Boundary, indulges in worst human rights violations against helpless Kashmiris in Indian occupied Kashmir, and undertakes subversive activities in Pakistan, then asking Pakistan to create an environment free of violence only sounds ironical.”
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June - 2 
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif while addressing an all-party conference in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan on June 2 said that foreign forces with the help of local elements have been promoting terrorism and violence in the country, reports Dawn. He said “Pakistan had suffered $110 b
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Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif while addressing an all-party conference in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan on June 2 said that foreign forces with the help of local elements have been promoting terrorism and violence in the country, reports Dawn. He said “Pakistan had suffered $110 billion losses in the war on terror over the past few years, but we are determined to eliminate terrorism and extremism from our country.”
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June - 3 
The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif while addressing a conference at the National Defense University (NDU) on June 3 said that Pakistan and Kashmir are inseparable, and that Kashmir is "an unfinished agenda of partition", reports Dawn. He said, "While we wish for peace and stability
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The Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif while addressing a conference at the National Defense University (NDU) on June 3 said that Pakistan and Kashmir are inseparable, and that Kashmir is "an unfinished agenda of partition", reports Dawn. He said, "While we wish for peace and stability in region, we want Kashmir's just resolution in the light of United Nations (UN) Resolutions and as per aspirations of the Kashmiri people to bring lasting peace in region." "Won't allow any country to use proxies" said CoAS, adding that tht contours of future wars are fast changing. He said, "While our enemies supporting terrorism to stoke sub-conventional conflicts and destabilise our country, we are fully determined, capable of defeating nefarious designs." He further said, "Pakistan is opposed to the use proxies against other countries and won't allow any country to use proxies versus Pakistan."
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June - 4 
Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on June 4 said that the country is capable of responding to all forms of aggression from India, reported The Express Tribune. “We know how to respond befittingly to any aggression from India,” the army chief said, adding that there is no need to worr
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Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on June 4 said that the country is capable of responding to all forms of aggression from India, reported The Express Tribune. “We know how to respond befittingly to any aggression from India,” the army chief said, adding that there is no need to worry about anything that India says. He said that the law and order situation of the country would continue to improve.
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June - 4 
Sindh Information Minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon on June 4 said that 48 madrassas (seminaries) have been found involved in ‘suspicious activities’, reports The News. He said that the meeting of the Apex Committee held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah in Karachi decided to
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Sindh Information Minister, Sharjeel Inam Memon on June 4 said that 48 madrassas (seminaries) have been found involved in ‘suspicious activities’, reports The News. He said that the meeting of the Apex Committee held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah in Karachi decided to initiate a crackdown on 48 seminaries which have been found to be promoting terrorism in the country in general and in the province in particular. The Committee also decided to undertake steps towards stopping the lines of terrorists. Strict action will also be taken against land grabbers, illegal hydrants, extortion, and illegal sale of petrol. Besides, a task force has also been constituted to check finance sources of terrorism, including protection money, ransom money, land grabbing, smuggling and collection of donations, hides and Fitra (charity money given during the month of fasting).
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June - 5 
Eight of the 10 militants jailed for life over involvement in the October 9, 2012, attack on fourteen year old children’s rights activist and Pakistan’s first National Peace Prize winner Malala Yusufzai have been freed, revealed media reports on June 5, reported The Express Tribune. “It was the co
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Eight of the 10 militants jailed for life over involvement in the October 9, 2012, attack on fourteen year old children’s rights activist and Pakistan’s first National Peace Prize winner Malala Yusufzai have been freed, revealed media reports on June 5, reported The Express Tribune. “It was the court’s decision to frame charges against two of the 10 accused and release eight others,” Regional Police Officer (RPO) Maland Division, Azad Khan said, refuting claims that attackers in Malala’s case were released as part of a deal. Khan, said, “An anti-terrorism court had sentenced two attackers, lIsarur Rehman and Izharullah, to life imprisonment, the rest of the eight alleged attackers Shaukat, Irfan, Suleman, Bilal, Zafar Ali, Arafat, Ikran and Adnan were set free.” The courts are free to make their decisions, the Police official said. “The case was not hidden and its details were all on the record of the judiciary,” he added, claiming the attackers might have been released because the decision of the court must have reached the jail administration. Confirming his statement, District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Marwat said that the judiciary made its decision and there were no covert deals. “The two attackers charged were sent in District Haripur jail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and were serving their sentence,” he added. Muneer Ahmed, a spokesperson for the Pakistani High Commission in London, said that the eight men were acquitted because of a lack of evidence. Ahmed claimed that the original court judgement made it clear only two men had been convicted and blamed the confusion on misreporting.
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June - 5 
Meanwhile, Police on June 5 said that they have arrested another suspect, identified as Asad-ur-Rahman, who is allegedly involved in the May 13, 2015, terrorist attack on Ismaili Shias, from Super Highway area, reports The News. According to in-charge of the Sindh Police's Counter-Terrorism Departme
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Meanwhile, Police on June 5 said that they have arrested another suspect, identified as Asad-ur-Rahman, who is allegedly involved in the May 13, 2015, terrorist attack on Ismaili Shias, from Super Highway area, reports The News. According to in-charge of the Sindh Police's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) SSP Raja Umer Khatab, Police has also recovered a vehicle and a weapon used in the attack. Asad is said to be one of 10 attackers involved in the bus attack. Khatab said that a Daihatsu Coure vehicle, which was suspected of being used in the terrorist attack, was recovered from a residential building near Super Highway. A 9mm pistol used in the attack was also recovered, he said.
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June - 5 
Presenting the budget in the National Assembly on June 5 the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar reported an increase in the defence budget by 11.6 percent for the next financial year and said, “The defence budget is being increased from PKR 700 billion for the outgoing fiscal year to PKR 780 billion for 201
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Presenting the budget in the National Assembly on June 5 the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar reported an increase in the defence budget by 11.6 percent for the next financial year and said, “The defence budget is being increased from PKR 700 billion for the outgoing fiscal year to PKR 780 billion for 2015-16,” reported Dawn. The budget documents laid in the National Assembly put the defence budget figure at PKR 781 billion. The Minister said that while the overall current expenditure of the Government had declined nominally by 0.7 percent, the defence expenditure was being increased in view of the security situation and requirements of the armed forces. The 11.6 percent hike in defence spending contrasted with a mere 4.8percent increase in the total outlay of the budget as compared to the outgoing year.
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June - 8 
Home Minister, Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said that the three belonged to a banned militant organisation involved in terrorist attacks across the country. He said Ali Gul and Rehman Wali carried head money of PKR 1 million and PKR 500,000, respectively, and were wanted by Police for their involvement
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Home Minister, Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti said that the three belonged to a banned militant organisation involved in terrorist attacks across the country. He said Ali Gul and Rehman Wali carried head money of PKR 1 million and PKR 500,000, respectively, and were wanted by Police for their involvement in heinous crimes, including the airbase attacks, bomb blasts at different places and targeted killings of Policemen. Zafarullah faces charges in nine cases of murder.
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June - 10 
The Inspector General (IG) of Sindh Police, Ghulam Haider Jamali on June 10 claimed that the group involved in the killings of Police officials in Malir and West Districts of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, has been identified, reports The News. Addressing a ceremony organized to distribut
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The Inspector General (IG) of Sindh Police, Ghulam Haider Jamali on June 10 claimed that the group involved in the killings of Police officials in Malir and West Districts of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, has been identified, reports The News. Addressing a ceremony organized to distribute cheques among the families of Police martyrs, the IG Sindh said culprits involved in the killings of Policemen will be brought to justice, claiming that Karachi city has witnessed a decline in target killings in 2015 compared to 2014. "Fifty four target killers have been arrested and other 53 were killed in the first five months of current year", Jamali said. He disclosed that the same group was involved in the assassination of a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and three District Superintendents of Police (DSPs) in Districts Malir and West. "Police had arrested the accused involved in Safoora Bus Carnage and Shikarpur Carnage after the hard-work of 15 days", the Sindh IG said.
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June - 11 
Director General (DG) Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar during a briefing to the Sindh Apex Committee regarding the current Karachi situation on June 11 said that over PKR 230 billion is collected illegally in Karachi annually and those millions of rupees are distributed amongst gang-war factions, r
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Director General (DG) Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar during a briefing to the Sindh Apex Committee regarding the current Karachi situation on June 11 said that over PKR 230 billion is collected illegally in Karachi annually and those millions of rupees are distributed amongst gang-war factions, reports Daily Times. He further revealed that this money is used for the purchase of arms and ammunition. It was also noted that money is coerced out in the form of alms for the same purpose. The briefing further said that most crime is committed by a large party in Karachi. The DG Rangers went on to say that a large part of illegal businesses in the city is the distribution system of water, which also involved illegal means of making money – in millions of rupees. The briefing also noted that the money made from sale of sacrificial animal hides is used for funding terrorist activities. Regarding land grabbing in Karachi, the DG Rangers said that political parties, the City Government, District Administration, and Police personnel are all involved in the activity. He added that the amount made from land grabbing is used by political and religious parties to operate their armed wings. He further said that an evil nexus of political leaders, civil servants and gang lords is involved in nurturing and sheltering organised crime and terrorism in Karachi, adds The Express Tribune. Billions of rupees collected from extortion, land grabbing, targeted killings and rackets are flowing in to the coffers of some top personalities of the Sindh Province, Major General Bilal Akbar said.
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June - 12 
Slamming India for ‘destablising’ Pakistan, former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf on June 12 said that the country’s nuclear weapons are for defence purposes and not for “celebratory” occasions, reported The Express Tribune. Musharraf claimed that India is planning a strategy to ultima
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Slamming India for ‘destablising’ Pakistan, former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf on June 12 said that the country’s nuclear weapons are for defence purposes and not for “celebratory” occasions, reported The Express Tribune. Musharraf claimed that India is planning a strategy to ultimately de-nuclearise Pakistan. “We do not want to use nuclear capability but if our existence comes under threat, who do we have these nuclear weapons for? If I say in Chaudhary Shujaat’s style, do we have nukes saved to be used on Shab-e-Baraat?” he said. “Don’t attack us, don’t challenge our territorial integrity because we are not a small power, we’re a major and nuclear power. Don’t push us,” he said, adding, “We should have self-confidence that their (Indian) dream to denuclearise Pakistan is not possible. We won’t let their end game materialise.”
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June - 13 
Meanwhile, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa issued a statement in which he said that so far 2,763 suspected terrorists have been killed in the Zarb-i-Azb operation in North Waziristan, reports Dawn. It added that 837 hideouts have been destroye
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Meanwhile, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa issued a statement in which he said that so far 2,763 suspected terrorists have been killed in the Zarb-i-Azb operation in North Waziristan, reports Dawn. It added that 837 hideouts have been destroyed and 253 tons of explosives have been recovered. In addition, 18,087 weapons including heavy machine guns (HMGs), light machine guns (LMGs), sniper rifles, rocket launchers and AK-47 rifles had been recovered during the past one year. He said that militant strongholds, communications infra-structure and sanctuaries were cleared on a large scale in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), including North Waziristan and Khyber agencies. He said that thousands of suspected terrorists and their abettors had been apprehended whereas ‘218 hardcore terrorists’ were killed in around 9,000 intelligence-based-operations (IBOs). Major General Bajwa added that 347 military personnel had also lost their lives during the operation. The press release further stated that Army is finalizing plans to launch the final phase of Operation Zarb-i-Azb in mid-July to flush out Taliban terrorists from their remaining strongholds along the border with Afghanistan.
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June - 17 
Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) Amir (chief) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while addressing a Nazria-e-Pakistan seminar at a hall on Jaranwala Road in Faisalabad District on June 17 said that India is financing terrorist activities in Pakistan after its failure to crush the freedom mo
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Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) Amir (chief) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while addressing a Nazria-e-Pakistan seminar at a hall on Jaranwala Road in Faisalabad District on June 17 said that India is financing terrorist activities in Pakistan after its failure to crush the freedom movement in India Administered Kashmir, reports The News. He said that the freedom movement had bewildered India and hence Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet members had accelerated their vicious campaign against Pakistan. He said that India had forgotten that the entire Pakistani nation was behind the armed forces to frustrate its evil designs. Saeed alleged that India was bent upon to sabotage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor but it should realise that when the NATO could not achieve its objective in Afghanistan, then how India could sabotage it. He said that India was trying to launch anti-Pakistan movements in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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June - 18 
In addition, Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on June 18 that the Government would not allow anyone to make the ongoing Karachi operation controversial that had been launched purely to target the criminals, reports Daily Times. “If some
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In addition, Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid said on June 18 that the Government would not allow anyone to make the ongoing Karachi operation controversial that had been launched purely to target the criminals, reports Daily Times. “If someone commits the crime in the name of politics, he will also be taken to task,” he said. He expressed confidence that routine-life would soon restore in the city and people would lead their lives in a peaceful manner.
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June - 19 
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on June19 said that all terrorists and their facilitators, abettors and financiers will soon be apprehended and brought to justice, reports Dawn. He said terrorists’ strongholds in Khyber Agency had been reduced and now the fight was in
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Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on June19 said that all terrorists and their facilitators, abettors and financiers will soon be apprehended and brought to justice, reports Dawn. He said terrorists’ strongholds in Khyber Agency had been reduced and now the fight was in progress in the remaining few pockets, close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The noose, he added, had been tightened around terrorists and they would not be allowed to regroup. The Army Chief said the area where the operation was being carried out was heavily infested with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), mostly of foreign make. He also visited the De-Radicalisation Centre (DRC) in Bara tehsil (revenue unit) of the Agency where the militants, who had surrendered in Operation Khyber-1, are being provided education and vocational training, adds The News. Further, while talking to the troops in the Agency he vowed that with unflinching national resolve and clear direction, the armed forces will accomplish their end objective of a terror free Pakistan, reports Daily Times.
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June - 23 
Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Abdul Qadir Baloch during a joint press conference in Chamkani area of Peshawar on June 23 said that a cabinet meeting will be convened to decide if Afghan refugees can be repatriated by December 31, 2015, reports The Express Tribune. The doc
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Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Abdul Qadir Baloch during a joint press conference in Chamkani area of Peshawar on June 23 said that a cabinet meeting will be convened to decide if Afghan refugees can be repatriated by December 31, 2015, reports The Express Tribune. The documentation process of unregistered Afghan refugees would start from June 25, 2015. The agency deals with roughly 13 million (as it stood till mid-2014) refugees across the world. During the conference, Baloch said the final decision on the repatriation of the refugees will be taken by the cabinet. “The decision will be taken based on ground-realities in sight,” he said, hinting at deteriorating law and order in Afghanistan. However, he emphasised, “The deadline for the repatriation of Afghan refugees is December 31. [Going back] will be a three-phased process.”
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June - 23 
Meanwhile, during a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on June 23, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed his support for military-led “actions against criminals” and gave his assent for taking the fight against terrorists to urban centres, reported Dawn. “It was decided t
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Meanwhile, during a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif on June 23, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed his support for military-led “actions against criminals” and gave his assent for taking the fight against terrorists to urban centres, reported Dawn. “It was decided that operation against criminals and terrorists would continue unhindered across the country. It was reiterated that Zarb-i-Azb would be taken to its logical conclusion, regardless of the cost, and terrorists and criminals would be hunted down indiscriminately,” the PM Office said.
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June - 24 
Officials in the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have told the UK authorities they received Indian Government funds, the BBC learnt from an authoritative source in Pakistan, Daily Times reported on June 25. UK authorities investigating the MQM for alleged money laundering also found a list of weapons
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Officials in the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) have told the UK authorities they received Indian Government funds, the BBC learnt from an authoritative source in Pakistan, Daily Times reported on June 25. UK authorities investigating the MQM for alleged money laundering also found a list of weapons in an MQM property. A Pakistani official has told the BBC that India has trained hundreds of MQM militants over the last 10 years. The Indian authorities described the claims as ‘completely baseless’. With 24 members in the National Assembly, the (MQM) has long been a dominant force in the politics of Karachi. British authorities held formal recorded interviews with senior MQM officials who told them the party was receiving Indian funding, the BBC was told. Before 2005-2006, the training was given to a small number of mid-ranking members of the MQM, the official said. More recently greater numbers of more junior party members have been trained. The claims follow the statement of a senior Karachi police officer that two arrested MQM militants said they had been trained in India. In April, Rao Anwar gave details of how the two men went to India via Thailand to be trained by the Indian intelligence agency, RAW. In response MQM leader Altaf Hussain issued a tirade of abuse at Rao Anwar. Asked about the claims of Indian funding and training of the MQM, the Indian High Commission in London said, “Shortcomings of governance cannot be rationalised by blaming neighbours.”
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June - 24 
Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on June 24 said the country’s defence system is strong and the nuclear assets are in safe hands, reports The News. The PM, while expressing satisfaction over Pakistan’s technological advancement in the sphere of defence that has made the sovereignty of the country im
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Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif on June 24 said the country’s defence system is strong and the nuclear assets are in safe hands, reports The News. The PM, while expressing satisfaction over Pakistan’s technological advancement in the sphere of defence that has made the sovereignty of the country impregnable, said that the nation is proud of engineers, scientists and experts who have evolved the capability indigenously. He was talking to the newly-appointed Director General Strategic Plans Division (DG SPD) Lieutenant General Mazhar Jamil at the PM House. General Mazhar briefed the PM on the remarkable achievements and future projects of the division. The country’s nuclear, missile and space programme are supervised by the SPD. The SPD is an important component of National Command Authority (NCA) which is headed by the PM and exercises complete command and control over the country’s nuclear and strategic capability structure.
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June - 26 
Authorities in Balochistan during a meeting of the provincial apex committee, headed by Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, on June 26 announced a general amnesty plan for all home-based Baloch militants who are willing to renounce violence and lay down their arms, reports The Express
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Authorities in Balochistan during a meeting of the provincial apex committee, headed by Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, on June 26 announced a general amnesty plan for all home-based Baloch militants who are willing to renounce violence and lay down their arms, reports The Express Tribune. According to an official handout, the apex committee meeting analysed in detail the need for maintaining law and order in the province. The meeting agreed that a “peaceful, conciliatory Balochistan policy will be implemented so that the youngsters who want to lay down arms and join the mainstream can be granted amnesty and be encouraged to rehabilitate themselves”. A senior Government official said the amnesty scheme only applies to those Baloch insurgents who are fighting locally. “Those who are hiding abroad will be dealt with legally,” he said. Under the scheme, he said, small-time fighters will be paid PKR 500,000. “Mid-level 'commanders' will get PKR 1 million while top 'commanders' will be paid PKR1.5 million,” he said, adding that rich cash prizes were offered to ensure the fighters do not rejoin insurgent groups.
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June - 26 
Meanwhile, in the wake of the heat-wave and incessant load-shedding in Karachi, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 'spokesperson', Muhammad Khorasani on June 26 said, “The TTP holds the greedy K-Electric responsible for the ruthless power load-shedding,” reports The Express Tribune. He further warne
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Meanwhile, in the wake of the heat-wave and incessant load-shedding in Karachi, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 'spokesperson', Muhammad Khorasani on June 26 said, “The TTP holds the greedy K-Electric responsible for the ruthless power load-shedding,” reports The Express Tribune. He further warned the K-Electric to end load-shedding or else face action in the interests of the oppressed people of Pakistan. Khorasani also expressed “solidarity” with the people of the provincial capital. “We express solidarity with the people of Karachi over the human tragedy,” he said.
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June - 28 
Elsewhere, the FC said on June 28 that it arrested six suspected militants during two search operations in Kalat and Turbat Districts, reports The Express Tribune. According to the Frontier Corps (FC) spokesman, in the first operation the paramilitary force carried out an intelligence-based search o
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Elsewhere, the FC said on June 28 that it arrested six suspected militants during two search operations in Kalat and Turbat Districts, reports The Express Tribune. According to the Frontier Corps (FC) spokesman, in the first operation the paramilitary force carried out an intelligence-based search operation in Kalat. “FC personnel arrested two militants of BLA and recovered automatic weapons from their possession,” the spokesman said. Both the militants were involved in attacks on security forces and the targeted killing of people.
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June - 29 
Former inter-services intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Hameed Gul has said that al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden died in 2005, and not in the US Navy Seals raid in Abbottabad, reports Daily Times. “In my opinion Osama was not there (Abbottabad). He died a natural death in 2005,” Hame
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Former inter-services intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General (retd) Hameed Gul has said that al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden died in 2005, and not in the US Navy Seals raid in Abbottabad, reports Daily Times. “In my opinion Osama was not there (Abbottabad). He died a natural death in 2005,” Hameed Gul said in a TV interview. The former ISI chief added that the truth would come out about the May 2, 2011, Abbottabad raid. Hameed Gul said he had good relations with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. According to Gul, Benazir Bhutto was killed because she was “sincere towards Pakistan”.
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July - 1 
The long-awaited repatriation process of internally displaced persons (IDP) started on July 1 when 93 families were sent back to their native areas in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), reports The Express Tribune. “The families repatriated on the first day comprise around 450 individuals, mostly women
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The long-awaited repatriation process of internally displaced persons (IDP) started on July 1 when 93 families were sent back to their native areas in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), reports The Express Tribune. “The families repatriated on the first day comprise around 450 individuals, mostly women and children,” Mir Ali Assistant Political Agent Zaheeruddin said. Since most of the displaced people belonging to Eidak are living in Baran camp on the outskirts of Bannu, the area was bustling on July 1 as families prepared to board buses for what a return journey which was a long time coming. Trucks had been arranged to transport the belongings of the IDPs.
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July - 2 
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah on July 2 claimed that the Government had controlled extortion and target killings in the Province, reports Daily Times. He said that the Sindh Government had given the Rangers rights under Anti Terrorist Act.
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Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah on July 2 claimed that the Government had controlled extortion and target killings in the Province, reports Daily Times. He said that the Sindh Government had given the Rangers rights under Anti Terrorist Act.
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July - 3 
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on July 3 said the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb will not stop unless achievement of the objective of a terror-free Pakistan, reports The News. The Army chief said this during his visit to the forward-most locations close to the Pak-Afghan bord
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The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on July 3 said the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb will not stop unless achievement of the objective of a terror-free Pakistan, reports The News. The Army chief said this during his visit to the forward-most locations close to the Pak-Afghan border in the North Waziristan Agency (NWA). He was briefed in detail by the formation commander about the progress of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and future plans to clear the remaining pockets of terrorists in the Shawal area, said an ISPR press release. Later, talking to fighting troops who have just successfully completed the preliminary phase of the Shawal operation and cleared all peaks around Shawal, the COAS commended their professionalism, sacrifices and the state of high morale so visible through their operational gains so far.
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July - 5 
Commander of Southern Command Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua on July 5 said that the people who had fled abroad and were now playing with dollars and pounds were misleading the innocent youth to fight in the name of freedom, reports The News. “Peace is the basic right of the masses and we are
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Commander of Southern Command Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua on July 5 said that the people who had fled abroad and were now playing with dollars and pounds were misleading the innocent youth to fight in the name of freedom, reports The News. “Peace is the basic right of the masses and we are following the path of peace,” he said. He said those who had fled the country and had been misleading the people of Pakistan could not be the leaders of Pakistan. Those leaders had been leading luxurious lives abroad and playing in pounds and dollars and forcing the poor to fight with the forces.
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July - 7 
Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan told the Senate on July 7 that the UNHCR had listed Jama’at-ud-Dawa (JuD) as a resurrection of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) but no supporting evidence was shared with Pakistan to establish such a connection, reports The News. The Interior Minister note
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Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan told the Senate on July 7 that the UNHCR had listed Jama’at-ud-Dawa (JuD) as a resurrection of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) but no supporting evidence was shared with Pakistan to establish such a connection, reports The News. The Interior Minister noted during the question hour that currently JuD was placed under observation under S 11 D vide SRO No. 1040 (1) 2003 and it has been mentioned in all provinces for any suspect activity. In response to a question by Senator Farhatullah Babar, the Minister said that any organisation proscribed under S 11 B of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 was prohibited from any and all activities, including charity work under a different name. The Minister pointed out that between 2008 and 2010, its offices were closed, however, relief was given by the Lahore High Court in WP 19705/2002. “Presently, JuD is engaged in charity and social work, operating hospitals, clinics, schools, ambulance service and religious institutions,” he noted.
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July - 7 
The Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on July 7 directed NADRA to prepare the national counter-terrorism database and that of the INGOs, reports The News. He said this during his meeting with senior officials of NADRA during a visit to the NADRA headquarters. Taking notice of the difficultie
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The Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on July 7 directed NADRA to prepare the national counter-terrorism database and that of the INGOs, reports The News. He said this during his meeting with senior officials of NADRA during a visit to the NADRA headquarters. Taking notice of the difficulties being faced by the people due to long queues at every office of NADRA, the Minister directed the chairman NADRA to put in place an online CNIC application system. This, he said, would not only benefit the Pakistanis in the country but also the overseas Pakistanis.
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July - 8 
Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while talking to journalists in Faisalabad District on June 8 said that India is dispatching intruders via Afghanistan to launch sabotage and terrorist activities in Pakistan, reported The News. He said, “We shall
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Jama'at-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Hafiz Muhammad Saeed while talking to journalists in Faisalabad District on June 8 said that India is dispatching intruders via Afghanistan to launch sabotage and terrorist activities in Pakistan, reported The News. He said, “We shall have to stop Indian infiltration one way or the other by taking steps to quit Indian agents from Afghanistan.” He said the foreign forces were contemplating to make Afghanistan as their base to create disturbance in Pakistan and also encouraging the ‘separatists of Balochistan’ as the Allied forces were planning to keep their hold in Afghanistan and ultimately capture the resources of Gulf countries and other oil-producing Muslim states.
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July - 9 
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on July 9 said that Pakistan is fighting the war against terrorism not only for regional stability but for peace all across the world, reports The News. Addressing the participants of BRICS Summit Russia Ufa 2015, Nawaz Sharif stressed that all states will have to join ha
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on July 9 said that Pakistan is fighting the war against terrorism not only for regional stability but for peace all across the world, reports The News. Addressing the participants of BRICS Summit Russia Ufa 2015, Nawaz Sharif stressed that all states will have to join hands to achieve the goal of peace and progress in the region. He said Pakistan had to pay a hefty price for fighting the terror war. However, he added that the loss of life and property will not deter Pakistan from taking this war to its logical end.
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July - 9 
The Foreign Office on July 9 decided not to call Islamic State (IS) by this name and instead refer to it as Daesh, an acronym that stands for Al Dawla al Islamyia fil Iraq wal Sham (translated as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), reports Dawn. “I would refer to the outfit as Daesh as there is nothin
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The Foreign Office on July 9 decided not to call Islamic State (IS) by this name and instead refer to it as Daesh, an acronym that stands for Al Dawla al Islamyia fil Iraq wal Sham (translated as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria), reports Dawn. “I would refer to the outfit as Daesh as there is nothing Islamic about it,” Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said. The Foreign Ministry had previously been using both IS and Daesh in its statements. There have been calls by Muslim scholars for calling the group Daesh in a move to delegitimize it.However, the group likes to be called IS because it negates the concept of borders and promotes a vision of one Muslim caliphate. It also suggests existence of a central authority instead of roving groups of mercenaries. It feels offended when called Daesh and had threatened to cut the tongues of those who used it.“Pakistan has alerted its security agencies to the threat posed by Daesh. Our authorities are vigilant and have been advised to take necessary action in this regard, if required,” FO spokesman Khalilullah said.
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July - 10 
A day after the Sindh Government extended the Police powers of the paramilitary force for 30 days rather than the usual four months, the Rangers Director General (DG) Major General Bilal Akbar on July 10 made it clear that there is no time frame to complete the Karachi operation, reports Dawn. “Kara
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A day after the Sindh Government extended the Police powers of the paramilitary force for 30 days rather than the usual four months, the Rangers Director General (DG) Major General Bilal Akbar on July 10 made it clear that there is no time frame to complete the Karachi operation, reports Dawn. “Karachi Law Enforcement Operation will continue till its logical conclusion is achieved, inshallah (God willing),” stated Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar in a tweet @Bilalak80.
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July - 10 
The United States (US) still has three key interests in Pakistan, averting al Qaeda’s re-emergence, preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting regional stability, said the next chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph F. Dunford Junior, who currently heads the US Ma
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The United States (US) still has three key interests in Pakistan, averting al Qaeda’s re-emergence, preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting regional stability, said the next chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph F. Dunford Junior, who currently heads the US Marine Corps, during a three-hour long hearing at the US Senate Armed Services Committee on July 10 in Washington, reported Dawn. The lawmakers showed a keen interest in the future of US-Pakistan relations. If confirmed by the Senate, General Dunford would succeed Army General Martin E. Dempsey on October 1, 2015. He said that the US-led coalition and the Afghan Government were closely watching the Islamic State's (IS) attempt to expand its reach to Afghanistan and Pakistan and were collaborating closely to prevent this threat from expanding.He further said that regional partners have an important role to play in ensuring a stable, democratic Afghanistan. “We have encouraged stronger ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan and have been pleased with their recent bilateral efforts to address their security concerns,” Dunford said. Areas of divergent interest with Pakistan include “our views on the use of proxies and the importance of a positive and stable Pakistan-India relationship”.
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July - 12 
Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on July 12 that terrorists will not be allowed to return to the tribal areas and no agreement will be made with them in this regard, reports The News. He said that the army and the local tribesmen had a
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Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on July 12 that terrorists will not be allowed to return to the tribal areas and no agreement will be made with them in this regard, reports The News. He said that the army and the local tribesmen had agreed that terrorists would never be allowed to come back once the whole area was cleared of them. “The state position is very clear that there would be no agreement with the Taliban and no question of their return arises,” he said.Further , he said that he cannot give a time-frame for the operation, and said that the operation was making substantial progress. “I cannot give a time-frame but we are achieving our objectives. However, the understanding is to complete the operation as soon as possible. The Operation Zarb-e-Azb is continuing under a plan,” he said. The military spokesman said the preliminary phase of the operation in the Shawal Valley has been completed and the next phase is being planned.
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July - 13 
Chairman of the Senate’s Standing Committee (SSC) on Interior, Rehman Malik, said on July 13 that self-styled Islamic State (IS) group, also known as Daesh, is involved in terrorist activities in Karachi, reports Dawn. Malik said, “Recent confession by suspects involved in the Safoora carnage about
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Chairman of the Senate’s Standing Committee (SSC) on Interior, Rehman Malik, said on July 13 that self-styled Islamic State (IS) group, also known as Daesh, is involved in terrorist activities in Karachi, reports Dawn. Malik said, “Recent confession by suspects involved in the Safoora carnage about their link to Daesh is evidence of the presence of the organisation in the country and its involvement in acts of terrorism in Karachi.”
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July - 13 
Pakistan on July 13 categorically said that no dialogue can be held with India if Kashmir is not on the table, reports Daily Times. “The meeting was not formal start of any dialogue process. Rather, it has served an important purpose to achieve an understanding that Pakistan and India should reduce
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Pakistan on July 13 categorically said that no dialogue can be held with India if Kashmir is not on the table, reports Daily Times. “The meeting was not formal start of any dialogue process. Rather, it has served an important purpose to achieve an understanding that Pakistan and India should reduce tensions to constructively engage in a structured dialogue on all issues of bilateral and regional interest, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said during a news conference at the Foreign Office. He said the joint statement issued after the meeting of Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi clearly said that the two countries are ready to discuss ‘all outstanding issues’, and “of course, Kashmir tops the list of outstanding issues.” “The statement says very clearly that both sides have agreed on the need to discuss and resolve all outstanding issues. So now, we are not going to beg or show over-anxiety about dialogue. If India follows up with the next step of seeking a formal dialogue, then I can assure you that no dialogue will take place without Kashmir on the agenda,” he said, adding, “This is our clear position in that sense.”
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July - 14 
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz, on July 14 confirmed that Track-II dialogue between India and Pakistan he mentioned in his media briefing on July 13, 2015, was actually a plan for back-channel engagement, reports Dawn. He had at a press conference
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Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz, on July 14 confirmed that Track-II dialogue between India and Pakistan he mentioned in his media briefing on July 13, 2015, was actually a plan for back-channel engagement, reports Dawn. He had at a press conference said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi had agreed to revive the Track-II dialogue on longstanding issues bedeviling the ties between the two countries, including the Kashmir dispute. The Adviser clarified that he used the phrase ‘Track-II’ instead of ‘back-channel’ because the two sides had in their meeting in Ufa (Russia) agreed on reviving Track-II. But, in essence it would be back-channel.Defending the recourse to back-channel, Aziz said it was difficult to achieve progress on sensitive issues in the front channel that takes place in the public glare. The Adviser said that the back-channel will be used simultaneously with the front channel official engagement.
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July - 14 
Director General (DG) ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on July 14 said that the operation against terrorists in the Khyber Agency had been completed and the Pakistan Army also wanted to complete the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in NWA as early
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Director General (DG) ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on July 14 said that the operation against terrorists in the Khyber Agency had been completed and the Pakistan Army also wanted to complete the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in NWA as early as possible, reports The News. He said that the first phase of the operation against the militants in North Waziristan had also been completed and vowed to clear Shawal from the possession of terrorists as soon as possible.
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July - 14 
Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Nasir Khan Durrani said on July 14 said that the presence of the self-styled Islamic State (IS) cannot be ignored in KP, reports Dawn. "It is wrong to say IS does not have a presence in KP," said Durrani, adding, “IS’s presence in Pakistan is not a
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Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Nasir Khan Durrani said on July 14 said that the presence of the self-styled Islamic State (IS) cannot be ignored in KP, reports Dawn. "It is wrong to say IS does not have a presence in KP," said Durrani, adding, “IS’s presence in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon, members who belonged to the outlawed TTP have switched sides in some cases." But Durrani assured that the situation was under control. "Frequency of terrorist attacks has witnessed a noticeable drop in comparison to the last four years, which is due to concentrated efforts by the army and law enforcement agencies," he added.
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July - 23 
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi on July 23 said that thousands of terrorists had been arrested in operation Zarb-e-Azb and they will be brought to justice soon, reports The News. In his address at Heritage Foundation, Fatemi said, “Over 190,000 Pakistan milit
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Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi on July 23 said that thousands of terrorists had been arrested in operation Zarb-e-Azb and they will be brought to justice soon, reports The News. In his address at Heritage Foundation, Fatemi said, “Over 190,000 Pakistan military personnel are taking part in Zarb-e-Azb, launched 13 months ago.” Pakistan has cleared Shawal area near Pak-Afghan border, he maintained.
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July - 23 
The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on July 22 again reiterated his stance that negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) should be initiated, reports Dawn. “If America can negotiate with the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan and Afghanistan should also negotiate with them (Talib
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The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on July 22 again reiterated his stance that negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) should be initiated, reports Dawn. “If America can negotiate with the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan and Afghanistan should also negotiate with them (Taliban),” said Imran while speaking to the media after meeting members of Army Public School (APS) Shuhada Forum. Imran announced the observance of a minute of silence on December 16 to honour the victims of APS Peshawar. He also announced the formation of a committee to negotiate on behalf of APS Shuhada Forum with the Federal Government.
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July - 29 
An Afghan Taliban claimed that Mullah Omar had died eight months ago of natural causes. The Taliban member added that, "The issue of choosing the next Amir-ul-Momineen is being resolved," adding, "A 20 member Shura is in control of the situation to avoid any conflict between the contending leaders".
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An Afghan Taliban claimed that Mullah Omar had died eight months ago of natural causes. The Taliban member added that, "The issue of choosing the next Amir-ul-Momineen is being resolved," adding, "A 20 member Shura is in control of the situation to avoid any conflict between the contending leaders". However, a senior official from the Pakistani military said he could not confirm Omar's death. “It is worth asking why this news has come out now, when we are two days away from the second round of peace talks,” said an unnamed official. “Especially in light of reports that he died two years ago ... why is this news being released now? It raises questions about the intentions of people who don't want talks to go forward,” he said.
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July - 29 
Another senior Afghan Government official quoting a senior Taliban leader said that the reclusive leader of the Afghan Taliban had died of multiple organ failure a year and a half ago and was subsequently buried in Kandahar, reports Dawn. He further said an eight-member Taliban Shura (Council) will
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Another senior Afghan Government official quoting a senior Taliban leader said that the reclusive leader of the Afghan Taliban had died of multiple organ failure a year and a half ago and was subsequently buried in Kandahar, reports Dawn. He further said an eight-member Taliban Shura (Council) will hold a meeting to choose Omar's successor for six months to one year.
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July - 29 
The Afghan Taliban and sources close to the militant group’s representatives, who are engaged in peace talks with the Afghan Government, rejected reports that Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar is dead, reports Daily Times. A Taliban 'spokesman' insisted that the group's leader “is very much alive”
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The Afghan Taliban and sources close to the militant group’s representatives, who are engaged in peace talks with the Afghan Government, rejected reports that Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar is dead, reports Daily Times. A Taliban 'spokesman' insisted that the group's leader “is very much alive” and the rumours of his death were aimed at drawing out the leader. However, Afghanistan's security services spokesman Abdul Hassib Seddiqi on July 29 said that Mullah Omar died two years ago in Pakistan, reported Daily Times. Seddiqi told British Broadcasting Cooperation's Afghan Service that Mullah Omar had died of health problems at a hospital in Pakistan. The Afghan Government says information on his death is credible. The BBC reported that the latest reports of Mullah Omar's death were being taken more seriously than previous such reports. A statement from the office of Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani said that it believed based on credible information that Mullah Omar died in April 2013 in Pakistan.
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July - 29 
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammad Amlish Khan, said that law and order situation in the Province is not purely a home-grown problem because criminal elements from Iran, Afghanistan and Sindh often penetrate into Balochistan, reports Dawn. He said that Police with the help of other law-
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The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammad Amlish Khan, said that law and order situation in the Province is not purely a home-grown problem because criminal elements from Iran, Afghanistan and Sindh often penetrate into Balochistan, reports Dawn. He said that Police with the help of other law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) had recently made a breakthrough by eliminating the provincial leadership of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). The development has had a positive effect on the law and order situation in the Province. Talking to journalists, he said: “Balochistan Police have been confronting the challenge of terrorism for years. The Province has borders with Iran, Afghanistan and Sindh from where terrorists, militants and criminals enter Balochistan. Because of limited financial sources, Police cannot monitor the entry of all such people into Balochistan.” He said top leaders of LeJ in the Province, including Osman Saifullah, had been killed and their accomplices arrested in the recent intelligence-driven joint operations of Police and other LEAs. Further, he said that militant organisations such as Jaish-e-Islam had stepped up their activities in the Province after the signing of an agreement to build China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which would pass through the province. “Several militant organisations have formed a joint network to carry out terrorist activities in the province,” he added.
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July - 30 
Afghan Taliban on July 30 officially confirmed Mullah Muhammad Omar’s death, hours after the group elected Mullah Akhtar Mansoor as the new Afghan Taliban supreme leader, reports The Express Tribune. Mullah Omar’s family and the Taliban leadership council in a statement confirmed that Mullah Omar pa
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Afghan Taliban on July 30 officially confirmed Mullah Muhammad Omar’s death, hours after the group elected Mullah Akhtar Mansoor as the new Afghan Taliban supreme leader, reports The Express Tribune. Mullah Omar’s family and the Taliban leadership council in a statement confirmed that Mullah Omar passed away in a peaceful manner. A statement released by the Afghan Taliban said, “Mullah Omar never visited Pakistan or any other country except Afghanistan.” “Mullah Omar led his movement from Afghanistan,” it added. Further, the statement said, “Mullah Omar died owing to an illness some time ago and he died within two weeks of contracting the disease.” However, the statement did not disclose the location of his death.
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