On July 31, the Taliban arrested two former police officers from the Ministry of Interior of the previous government, named Gul Nabi and Pacha Gul, from their homes in Dawlat Shah District of Laghman Province, following their expulsion from Iran, reports Afghanistan International on August 3.
According to the Taliban Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation, as deportations by Iran and Pakistan continue, 124 migrant families were repatriated to Afghanistan on August 3, reports Amu TV. The Ministry confirmed that 34 families returned from Pakistan via Spin Boldak (Kandahar), 40 through Torkham border, 18 via Abrishom crossing, and 32 through Islam Qala in Herat.
During a meeting with the Taliban’s supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, Taliban ‘interior minister’ Sirajuddin Haqqani expressed his disappointment regarding the internal power disputes among Taliban members, reports Amu TV on August 3. Haqqani said, “The division of responsibilities should not lead to conflicts among us. We are united as before under the leadership of one Amir. I am saddened by the fragmentation of the Taliban into various factions.”
Taliban demanded cash from the Hazaras to settle a land dispute and threatened eviction if they did not pay in Uruzgan Province, reports Afghanistan International on August 3. Reportedly, the Hazara community paid AFN 15 million to the Taliban, half of the AFN 30 million demanded to settle a land dispute with Pashtuns. The dispute involves about 700 acres of fertile land in the Kandir area of Gizab District.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign on August 5 and the military has taken over the country, reports Republic TV. Hasina according to reports is safely evacuated to Agartala in Indian State of Tripura.
At least 96 people, including 13 Police officers were killed and more than thousands others were injured in a series of clashes that broke out in several parts of the country centred on the student-led non-cooperation movement under the banner of Students Against Discrimination, reports The Daily Star and Dhaka Tribune on August 5. Since August 1, when the government banned Jamaat-e Islami (JeI) and its students' front Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the violence started to spread, where an angry mob killed 13 police officers at a police station, and clashes in Raiganj Upazila added five more killings, bringing Sirajganj District's total death toll to 18 on August 4. Meanwhile, 12 people were killed in Dhaka, eight in Laxmipur, and 100 were injured. Narsingdi District reported that six Awami League leaders were beaten to death. In Chattogram, 172 people were hospitalized. In the last three weeks, the total death toll in anti-government protests crossed 300.
On August 5 (today), Army troops opened fire on suspected groups of infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) in Akhnoor and Sunderbani sectors in Rajouri District of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports Daily Excelsior. Though no casualty was repoorted, a search operation was underway at the time of reporting.
Kuki militants attacked the Meitei villages of Sabung- khok Khunou, Yaingangpokpi Shanti- khongbal and Thamnapokpi, in the periphery of Imphal East District in Manipur on August 4, reports The Sangai Express. Using bombs and other sophisticated weapons, Kuki militants attack continued for almost four hours. Even though there was no casualty, five houses of Yaingangpokpi Shanti-khongbal and Thamnapokpi suffered large scale damages as they were hit by bombs and bullets. Meanwhile, the Lamlai Kendra Village Volunteer Force (LKVVF) and the people of Yaingangpokpi area have decided to close Imphal-Ukhrul road indefinitely from the morning of August 7 if the Central forces deployed in the area are not replaced by State forces within 48 hours.
The Security Forces (SFs) exchanged fire with the cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) during a major operation launched following information about the presence of Maoist cadres of the Raoghat Area Committee of the CPI-Maoist in the hills of Kachchapal in Kohakmeta Police Station area in Narayanpur District in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh on August 3, reports abplive.com. The SFs fired heavily while raiding the Maoist hideouts, forcing the Maoists to escape from there. There were no reports of casualties on either side. The SFs recovered and successfully deactivated five kilogrammes of pipe bombs planted by the Maoists.
On August 4, East Agartala Police arrested 12 Bangladeshi nationals from the Lankamura area in West Tripura District of Tripura, reports tripurainfo.
Border Security Force (BSF) stated on X that on August 4, troops recovered a drone (China-made DJI AIR 3) in Dal village in Tarn Taran District of Punjab.
On August 3, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration sacked six government employees, including five Policemen, and one teacher, identified as Head Constable Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, Selection Grade Constables Saif Din, Khalid Hussian Shah and Irshad Ahmad Chalkoo, Constable Rahmat Shah and teacher Nazam Din for their link to Hijb-ul-Mujahiddin (HM), and transborder narcotics smuggling, reports Daily Excelsior. The officials said Saif Din is an overground worker (OGW) of HM, Sheikh, along with Khalid Shah and Rahmat Shah received a huge consignment of narcotics from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) based smugglers from across the Line of Control (LoC), Khalid Shah establish contact with drug smugglers in PoK. Rahmat Shah received a huge consignment of narcotics from across the LoC for selling in other parts of the country.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister (CM) Conrad K Sangma expressed Government’s commitment to address the concern of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to find a lasting solution but HNLC remains conspicuously absent from the dialogue, reports Northeast Now on August 4. CM Sangma recently stated that the Meghalaya Government was open to considering HNLC’s demand for amnesty but the final decision rests with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA). However, HNLC’s top leaders halted and withdrew the peace process in 2023, addressing in a joint letter to UMHA on December 31, 2023, stating that the Government failed to address its core demands. HNLC peace-talk interlocutor Sadon Blah hinted at a potential reconsideration of the peace process but no concrete steps have followed.
In a meeting of the Standing Focus Group (SFG) along with the State Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), called by the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the Agencies discussed the status of cases filed by the State Police and Central Agencies against Popular Front of India (PFI) since September 2022, reports The Indian Express on August 4. The key points discussed in the meeting included efforts to arrest the former leaders of PFI who are still absconding or have fled the country; details of persons visiting jailed PFI leaders; whether Friday prayers in jail where PFI leaders are lodged and being monitored and any migration of PFI leaders/operatives to other organisations. The report also mentioned NIA’s multiple cases against the PFI where the Agency conducted raids in several states in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala to collect evidence against the accused and suspects in their cases.
Indian Coast Guard conducted a two-day Coastal Security Exercise Sagar Kavach-01/24 at Port Blair in the South Andaman District of Andaman and Nicobar Islands on July 30 and July 31 to foster cohesiveness amongst various stakeholders and revalidated existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) pertaining to Coastal Security, reports Andaman Chronicle. The exercise focused on various security challenges simulating infiltration attempts by nefarious elements, asymmetric threats, terrorist activities, drone attacks and hostage situations onboard passenger vessels. The key outcome of the exercise was enhanced coordination and cooperation between all security agencies which reasserted the importance of a more integrated approach to Coastal Security management and identified areas of improvement. The exercise underscored the commitment of all security agencies towards safeguarding India’s maritime interests and protecting our coastal borders.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) released a report indicating a significant improvement in the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) since the abrogation of Article 370, of the Constitution of India, highlighting a steep decline in terror-related violence, providing substantial relief to the people of the region, Daily Excelsior reported on August 5. “There has been a notable decrease in various security-related incidents including grenade attacks, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts, stone pelting and civilian casualties in J&K. The decrease reflects a positive impact on public safety with a reduced threat from these incidents,” the report said. It also added “There has been a decrease in civilian and security forces fatalities and injuries highlighting enhanced security measures and reduced risk for both civilians and jawans,”
On August 4, Kamal Bahadur Shah of the Nepali Congress (NC) was appointed Chief Minister (CM) of Sudurpaschim Province, reports Khabarhub. With support from the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), Shah put forth his claim to the CM post.
Two members of ‘death squad’ (‘state-backed armed militia), identified as Latif and Amanullah, were killed while another one, Asif, sustained injuries when Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres targeted them in the Chitkan Ghareebabad area of Panjgur District in Balochistan on July 26, The Balochistan Post reported on August 2. In a media statement, BLF ‘spokesperson’ Major Gwahram Baloch alleged that these individuals were part of a ‘state-backed death squad’ formed by Pakistani intelligence agencies. In his statement, Major Gwahram Baloch warned those cooperating with the Pakistani state to cease their support. He emphasized that individuals providing information to the military or harassing the public should expect severe consequences.
The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres intercepted and confiscated a vehicle carrying supplies for the Pakistani military in the Naag area of Zamuran tehsil (revenue unit) of Kech District in Balochistan on August 2, reports The Balochistan Post. While claiming responsibility of the attack, the BLF ‘spokesperson’ Major Gwahram Baloch stated that the driver was released because he was identified as a Baloch.
The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) cadres destroyed an internet tower in the Damban area of Zamuran tehsil (revenue unit) of Kech District in Balochistan on August 2, reports The Balochistan Post. BLF ‘spokesperson’ Major Gwahram Baloch claimed responsibility of the attack.
A Baloch protester, identified as Hamdan Baloch, the son of Abdullah Badini, was killed and two others were injured when Security Forces (SFs) opened fire on a Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) rally in Nushki District of Balochistan on August 2, reports The Balochistan Post. The rally was organized by the BYC to protest against the ‘violent crackdown’ by SFs on participants of the ‘Baloch National Gathering.’ The rally began at the Nushki Press Club and proceeded to Qalam Chowk Station, where it turned violent as SFs fired live ammunition at the crowd. The BYC condemned the shooting, describing it as an attempt to silence dissent. “Sangat Hamdan Baloch was martyred today during a peaceful rally in Nushki,” the group said in a statement. “The state is using every possible means to suppress the Baloch nation.”
A Policeman was injured when four assailants riding two motorcycles opened fire on a Police vehicle on Paniyala-Paharpur Road in Paharpur tehsil (revenue unit) of Dera Ismail Khan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on August 3, reports Dawn. Police said the Police mobile was patrolling in the area when it came under attack near Kirri Sakhi Mardan. During the exchange of fire with assailants, constable Arshadullah sustained bullet wounds, while some of the attackers were also stated to have suffered gunshot injuries. The assailants left behind their two bikes and managed to escape from the spot, taking away the official gun of the injured constable.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) arrested three terrorists including a Daesh ‘commander’ in Punjab, ARY News reported on August 3. According to CTD spokesperson, several operations were conducted across major cities of Punjab including Faisalabad, Jhelum and Chakwal. CTD officials stated that the terrorist arrested were identified as Abdul Wahab, Saifullah and Khurram Abbas, whereas explosives, IED bomb, detonator, cash and other items were recovered from the terrorists.
Amid continuing scrutiny over the issue of missing persons and enforced disappearances, Islamabad High Court's (IHC) Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on August 2 said that the Prime Minister and his cabinet are responsible for any person that goes "missing", reports Geo TV. "The ultimate responsibility is on the shoulders of the personages at the helm of affairs in the government, which under our Constitution are the prime minister and the [federal] cabinet," Justice Aurangzeb said in an order issued in a case involving the disappearance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill's brother Ghulam Shabbir. On August 1, the Government announced a package worth PKR five million for each family as part of its efforts to provide legal and financial assistance to the heirs of missing persons.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Gandapur said on August 2 that in 2024, at least 76 Policemen were killed in the province, reports ARY News. The IGP stated that the Police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed 148 terrorists and arrested 250 others in the ongoing year. He added that the Police, CTD, and Security Forces (SFs) jointly eliminated the Salim Rabbani group. In addition, the Mohsin Qadeer group in Mardan was eliminated, and commanders Abdul Rahim and Zuber were killed in Peshawar and Bannu, respectively. IGP Gandapur emphasized that there are no “no-go” areas in KP and that efforts are being made to further improve Police capabilities in southern Districts. He praised the KP Police for maintaining their morale despite facing extremely challenging situations.
The United States (US) on August 1 reaffirmed its commitment to preventing groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from using Afghanistan as a base for launching terrorist attacks against neighbouring countries and countering their recruitment efforts, reports Dawn. During the US State Department briefing, journalists highlighted the UN report, expressing concerns about the growing presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. In response, US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel emphasised the US commitment to addressing this threat, stating, “We are cooperating with partners and allies, including in the immediate region; and we’re working vigilantly to prevent the re-emergence of external threats from Afghanistan.”