In partnership with
Profit
Sunday, 12 October, 2025 | 18 Rabius Sani, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 95 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
PAKISTAN ARMY THWARTS ‘ATTEMPTED INFILTRATION,’ RESPONDS STRONGLY TO UNPROVOKED AFGHAN FIRING
g
g
UNPROVOKED FIRING REPORTED AT MULTIPLE BORDER SECTORS FROM ANGOOR ADDA, BAJAUR, KURRAM, DIR, CHITRAL, TO BARAMCHA AND KHAR LACHI SEVERAL AFGHAN POSITIONS DESTROYED AS FIGHTERS FLEE AMID RETALIATORY FIRE
g
g
SECURITY SOURCES SAY ATTACK AIMED AT AIDING KHAWARIJ INFILTRATION INTO PAKISTAN
INTERIOR MINISTER VOWS FIRM RESPONSE, SAYS ‘AFGHANISTAN BEING ANSWERED WITH STONES FOR STONES’
Pakistan slams Afghan FM’s India remarks, warns ‘deflection won’t erase Kabul’s anti-terror duty’ ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
T
ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt
HE Pakistan Army on Saturday said it delivered a swift and “befitting” response to what security sources described as unprovoked firing by Afghan forces at multiple locations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, thwarting an attempted infiltration by militants and destroying several Afghan posts. The alert and prepared troops, the sources said, repelled coordinated assaults across several border sectors — Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral (K-P) and Baramcha (Balochistan) — after gunfire that, according to officials, was aimed at facilitating the illegal entry of Khawarij (the state term for the
banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan). The Army response, officials added, targeted multiple Afghan positions, destroyed several border posts and resulted in heavy enemy casualties; they said dozens of Afghan fighters and foreign militants were killed and that Taliban fighters abandoned posts in panic. “The Pakistan Army immediately gave a strong and effective response and targeted several Afghan posts,” one security source told reporters. “Bodies were left behind as the militants fled; posts were deserted.” The exchanges, the sources noted, were still ongoing late Saturday. Troops along the western frontier were reported to be on high alert as retaliatory operations continued in some sectors. The cross-border firing coincided with a diplomatically sensitive moment:
PM stresses AI, IT integration to power digital economy, accelerate development LAHORE
Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said the government is according top priority to the promotion of information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen Pakistan’s digital economy and accelerate national development. Chairing a high-level meeting on the promotion of AI, the Prime Minister said artificial intelligence would play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, improving governance, and enhancing productivity across sectors. He stressed that the implementation of a digital economy would become more efficient through the integration of AI technologies. Premier Shehbaz directed the formulation of a steering committee to promote and ensure the implementation of AI initiatives nationwide, adding that the National Policy on Artificial Intelligence must be implemented “in letter and spirit.” The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of data protection, data sovereignty, and the responsible use of AI, saying these principles should guide every phase of AI deployment. During the meeting, participants were briefed on the government’s ongoing initiatives to promote AI, and it was informed that an expert-based advisory panel is being established to guide implementation. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Bilal Bin Saqib, senior government officials, and AI experts.
Pakistan on Saturday strongly rebuked Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi for his remarks made during a visit to India, warning that “deflecting responsibility for crossborder terrorism cannot absolve the Afghan interim government of its obligations toward regional peace and stability,” according to a Foreign Office statement. The sharp response came after Muttaqi, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi following a deadly explosion in Kabul on Thursday, indirectly blamed Pakistan and claimed there was “no terrorist group left in Afghanistan.” He said countries should resolve their internal issues themselves, adding, “Since the last eight months, there has not been even
Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister was on an official visit to India, a development Islamabad flagged as concerning. Security officials said the timing and coordination of the strikes, together with reported militant movement along the border, raised serious questions about the role of Afghan forces in facilitating cross-border militancy. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi
a small incident in Afghanistan. In four years, no one has been harmed from Afghanistan’s soil. This is the best proof we have presented.” The FO statement said Pakistan’s “strong reservations” over elements of the India-Afghanistan joint statement were formally conveyed to the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad by the Additional Foreign Secretary (West Asia & Afghanistan). Rejecting Muttaqi’s assertion that terrorism was Pakistan’s internal problem, the FO said Islamabad had “repeatedly shared details” with Kabul regarding the presence of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan—terms used for militants of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and India-backed Baloch insurgent groups—“operating from Afghan soil with support from elements within Afghanistan.”
strongly condemned the “unprovoked firing” on civilian-populated areas inside Pakistan and termed the attacks a breach of international law. “The firing on civilian populations is an open breach of international law,” he said, commending the armed forces for an “immediate and effective response.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
Defence Czar urges Kabul to act against terrorists as relations reach new low SIALKOT
Staff RepoRt
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned that Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan are deteriorating, warning that the prevailing environment could further strain bilateral ties—a situation Islamabad does not desire. “Pakistan wants relations of respect, dignity, and brotherhood, just like good neighbors, and we expect Afghanistan to cooperate in addressing cross-border terrorism,” the minister said in an interview with a private TV channel on Saturday. Asif noted that relations between the two countries had “never been ideal,” alleging that terrorism was being exported from Afghan soil into Pakistan. He reiterated that Islamabad’s expectations of “mutual respect and cooperation” were essential for regional peace. Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated in recent months amid the interim Afghan government’s reluctance to act against terrorist groups operating from its territory. Pakistan has seen a surge in cross-border attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The two neighbours share a
porous 2,500-kilometer border with multiple crossings crucial for trade and people-to-people ties. However, terrorism remains a persistent challenge, with Pakistan repeatedly urging Kabul to prevent its soil from being used by groups such as the TTP. Asif said residents of areas harbouring terrorists were often aware of their presence, adding that “silence in such cases amounts to partial consent.” He vowed that patriotic citizens would face no harm, while terrorists and their facilitators would be dealt with firmly. Highlighting Pakistan’s decades-long support for Afghans, the minister noted that over 554,000 undocumented Afghans had been repatriated since April
2025 under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, including about 145,000 in August. Asif also alleged that masterminds of terrorism were based in Afghanistan and receiving support from India, whose recent statements, he warned, indicated the possibility of “another misadventure.” Pakistan, he asserted, would respond “more forcefully than before.” A day earlier, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan had engaged Afghanistan through multiple diplomatic channels—including the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE—but cautioned that “space given to non-state actors in Afghanistan is dangerous for both countries.” He urged Kabul to “seal the border” and stop its territory from being used for attacks on Pakistan, adding that India was exploiting Afghan soil for proxy operations and that much of the American weaponry left after the US withdrawal had fallen into the hands of terrorist groups. A recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team also confirmed Islamabad’s concerns, revealing operational, financial, and logistical links between Kabul and the TTP.
Tarar slams PTI-led KP govt for ‘aiding terrorists, undermining national security’ ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, accusing it of “facilitating terrorists, sowing division, and undermining national security,” vowing the nation’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism “will not go in vain.” His remarks came a day after DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry—without naming anyone—warned that “the state and its people will not and cannot be left to the whims of a single person deemed most responsible for bringing terrorism back to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” Addressing a presser, Tarar said that within just a week, several terrorist attacks had been “bravely and courageously repelled” by Pakistan Army officers and soldiers, yet PTI, which he termed “Tehreek-i-Inteshaar” (movement of chaos), showed no concern for the martyrs or the country’s integrity. “Their only goal is to divide KP further, worsen the situation, and create safe havens for terrorists,” he alleged. The minister said this was not a new pattern, accusing Imran Khan and his party of having “shown sympathy for terrorists at local, regional, and international levels” for decades and “acting as their facilitators.” Recalling the country’s long struggle against militancy, Tarar said Pakistan had paid a heavy price — “even its children have sacrificed their lives.” He invoked memories of the APS Peshawar attack and the recent Khuzdar bus attack, saying the blood of those victims remains an eternal reminder of national resolve. He said he had personally met the bereaved families in Khuzdar and Quetta. “One father, who lost three sons, told me with courage and faith, ‘My own life is also ready to be sacrificed for Pakistan,’” he recounted. Tarar lauded the steadfastness of KP’s people—from soldiers to shopkeepers—for bearing the brunt of militancy. He recalled how Operation Zarb-i-Azb and Raddul Fasaad, led under Nawaz Sharif’s government, restored peace through the National Action Plan, ending the years when fear dominated daily life and “cricket grounds lay deserted.” The minister said terrorists have “no caste, creed, or color—they believe only in violence.” He added that attacking mosques, armed forces, or law enforcers was “not permissible in Islam” and that ulema had issued fatwas declaring jihad against the state unlawful. Turning to Imran Khan, Tarar said the jailed PTI founder had “no respect for the nation’s sacrifices” and accused him of promoting personality worship. “When Benazir Bhutto was martyred, PPP workers chanted ‘Pakistan khappay.’ But what slogan did you give? ‘Khan nahi, to Pakistan nahi’? Such politics is a curse,” he said. He claimed peace had been established by 2017 but was reversed after PTI’s return to power in KP in 2018, accusing the provincial government of resettling militants, promoting an illegal black economy, and benefiting from “non-custom-paid cars, oil and food smuggling, and tobacco and timber trades.” “This nexus between terrorists and the KP government is now haunting the nation as we pick up bodies every day,” Tarar said. He further alleged that the KP government’s new chief minister, Sohail Afridi, faced cases of drug trafficking—calling it part of the same illicit economy—and added that speculation was rife that the banned TTP was becoming the militant wing of PTI. “I hope this is not true,” he remarked. Tarar asserted, “The state of Pakistan will never permit anyone to support terrorists. When history is written, one side will have our martyrs—and on the other, the Tehreek-iInteshaar that thought it could gain by siding with them.” PTI hits back: ‘We stand for the blood of martyrs’ Responding in Islamabad, PTI leaders rejected the accusations and reaffirmed loyalty to Pakistan. “We will not respond word for word,” said PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, “but we know we are loyal to this country—and 90 percent of Pakistanis stand with Imran Khan.”
Sohail Afridi set for crucial election as governor receives Gandapur’s resignation PESHAWAR
Mian abRaR
In a dramatic turn of events in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s political landscape, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has moved swiftly to replace Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur with Sohail Afridi following Gandapur’s resignation. PTI’s provincial president, Junaid Akbar Khan, held a fiery press conference earlier on Saturday, hailing the transition as a democratic triumph and throwing down the gauntlet to opposition forces. “Sohail Afridi is a clean person, and he will definitely be made the Chief Minister,” Khan declared, expressing gratitude to Gandapur for his prompt action. “I thank Ali Amin Gandapur that as soon as he received party’s founder Imran Khan’s instructions, he did not waste a minute and resigned.” Khan emphasized PTI’s unassailable mandate in the province, underscoring the party’s constitutional and legal right to effect leadership changes. “We have the mandate of the province, and Imran Khan has the dis-
cretion to make a change whenever he deems approperiate,” he asserted. Dismissing rumors of internal discord, Khan challenged his detractors: “You claim that we have affidavits, so I challenge you to convince any one of our 92 members to speak against us.” He revealed that a parliamentary meeting had already convened, with all 92 PTI lawmakers poised to vote for Afridi. “All the workers of our party are standing with him, and we will get Sohail Afridi elected as the Chief Minister. I congratulate Sohail Afridi. He will now form a good team, and if there is any deficiency, it will be removed. The party will fully support Sohail Afridi.” The sequence of events unfolded late last night after high-level consultations within PTI’s central leadership. On Imran Khan’s explicit instructions, Gandapur tendered his resignation as Chief Minister, paving the way for Afridi’s nomination as his successor. However, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi threw a wrench into the process by stating that he had not formally received the resignation
document, effectively stalling the handover. Undeterred, PTI escalated the matter by requisitioning an emergency session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday. Sources within the party indicated that the session was primarily to focus on tabling and passing a no-confidence motion against Gandapur, ensuring a smooth transition to Afridi. “The resignation was not accepted, so we’re removing him through the no-confidence route,” a PTI spokesperson confirmed, adding that the move aligns with the party’s strategy to maintain governance continuity amid mounting political pressures. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi later in the day admitted that the resignation of PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur has been “duly received and acknowledged” by the Governor’s House. “Today at 2:30 pm, the handwritten resignation advice of the CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was duly received and acknowledged by Governor House,” Kundi posted on X.
KP Assembly summoned to elect new provincial chief executive on Oct 13 PESHAWAR
Staff RepoRt
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has been summoned to meet at 10:00 a.m. on October 13 to elect a new chief minister following the resignation of Ali Amin Gandapur, who stepped down earlier this week on the instructions of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. According to an official notification issued by the Assembly Secretariat, the sitting, which was originally scheduled for October 20 at 2:00 p.m., has been brought forward by a week. The decision was taken under Rule 31(b) of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules, 2025, empowering the Speaker to alter the date
of an already-summoned session. “Mr Speaker, while exercising the powers conferred upon him under paragraph (b) of Rule 31, has called the sitting of the Assembly on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., which was earlier called for Monday, October 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.,” the notification read. Gandapur’s resignation and legal clarity Earlier, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed that the KP Assembly would convene on Monday to elect a new Leader of the House, following the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Gandapur. Addressing a press conference alongside provincial law minister Aftab Alam Afridi at the K-P Assembly’s Jirga Hall, Raja explained that under Article 130(8) of the Constitution, the chief minister’s resignation takes effect immediately upon submission.