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Sunday, 14 September, 2025 | 20 Rabiul Awal, 1447
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 67 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
Sindh under severe flood PM SHEHBAZ VOWS ‘FULL FORCE’ AGAINST TERROR, threat as Indus surges BLAMES AFGHAN SOIL, INDIAN BACKING FOR ATTACKS
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PREMIER ATTENDS BANNU MARTYRS’ FUNERAL g SAYS AFGHAN INTERIM GOVT CLEARLY WITH COAS, PLEDGES NO COMPROMISE IN TOLD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SUPPORTING FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM KHWARIJ OR STANDING WITH PAKISTAN STRESSES INVOLVEMENT OF INFILTRATED AFGHAN NATIONALS IN TERROR INCIDENTS, REITERATING URGENT NEED FOR REPATRIATION OF ILLEGAL AFGHAN RESIDENTS
19 soldiers martyred, 45 Khwarij killed in three KP IBOs: ISPR RAWALPINDI
Staff RepoRt
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BANNU/ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday vowed that Pakistan would continue responding to terrorism with “full force,” declaring that terrorist leaders and facilitators responsible for attacks inside the country were operating from Afghan soil with Indian backing. “There should be no ambiguity or compromise in a resolute response to terrorism,” the prime minister said during his visit to Bannu, where he attended the funeral prayers of soldiers martyred in the recent South Waziristan attack. “It is clear that terrorist leaders and facilitators are using Afghan soil, with the backing of India, for attacks in Pakistan.” Earlier, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that 12 soldiers
embraced martyrdom while security forces killed 13 terrorists during an intense exchange of fire in South Waziristan. From September 10 to 13, security forces eliminated 35 “khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Khwarij” in two separate engagements. On Thursday, seven more soldiers were martyred and 10 terrorists killed in Lower Dir. The state uses the term Fitna alKhwarij to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Balochistan-based groups have also been designated Fitna al-Hindustan to underline India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan. PM Shehbaz, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, later attended a high-level counterterrorism meeting in Bannu. Both leaders also joined the funeral prayers of the martyrs of the South Waziristan operation.
A total of 19 soldiers were martyred and 45 terrorists linked to the “Indian proxy Fitna al-Khwarij” were killed in three separate intelligence-based operations conducted in KhyberPakhtunkhwa between September 10 and 13, the military’s media wing reported on Saturday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the first operation took place in Bajaur district following reports of terrorist presence. “Own troops effectively engaged the location, and after an intense exchange of fire, 22 terrorists were killed,” the statement said. In a separate encounter in South Waziristan district, 13 more terrorists were “neutralised” by security forces. The army confirmed that 12 personnel “fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and em-
“The Afghan interim government has been clearly told to choose between supporting the khwarij or standing with Pakistan,” the prime minister said, stressing the involvement of infiltrated Afghan nationals in terrorist incidents and reiterating the urgent need for the repatriation of illegal Afghan residents. He further warned that “anyone facilitating or advocating” for terrorists or
braced shahadat (martyrdom).” “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from Indian-sponsored killed khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in these areas,” the statement added. “Intelligence reports have unequivocally confirmed physical involvement of Afghan nationals in these heinous acts. Besides, [the] use of Afghan soil against Pakistan by Fitna al Khawarij terrorists continues to remain a grave point of concern,” the military further noted. “Pakistan expects the interim Afghan government to uphold its responsibilities and deny use of its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan,” it added. Pakistan has long maintained that it faces a persistent threat from militant groups operating out of Afghanistan, including the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which was recently designated by the US State Department as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
“acting as proxies for India” was essentially their agent and would be dealt with accordingly. Praising the resilience of the nation, particularly the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PM Shehbaz said they had “stood like Banyanum Marsoos (a wall fortified with lead) with the state and armed forces against Indian proxies.”
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MULTAN
Staff RepoRt
Flood devastation continues to worsen across Punjab and Sindh as major rivers breach embankments, displacing millions and destroying vast stretches of farmland. At Guddu Barrage, flows in the Indus River surged to 537,000 cusecs on Saturday, prompting a highlevel flood warning. Authorities cautioned that by September 15, extremely high flood conditions are expected downstream, putting Sindh at imminent risk. The province, still reeling from the catastrophic 2022 floods, now braces for another major disaster. Water levels are steadily rising at Sukkur and Kotri Barrages. Sukkur has recorded inflows of 460,000 cusecs, while Kotri is under a low-level flood alert. In southern Punjab, Rajanpur and Chachran Sharif reported water levels reaching 11.4 feet, while flood surges from Head Panjnad have advanced to Kot Mithan, threatening nearby katcha settlements. Although flows at Head Panjnad have fallen slightly to 633,000 cusecs, they remain at extremely high flood levels. In Ali Pur’s katcha belt of Malan Wali, rising waters forced hundreds of families to evacuate. The River Chenab has already wreaked havoc in Jalalpur Pirwala and advanced towards Shujabad, where a 250-foot breach in a protective embankment has submerged dozens of villages. Thousands have been forced to flee as the floodwaters move toward the city. In Dhowandho village, a collapsed embankment left 138 settlements under water, while crops in Basti Ga Garan were completely destroyed. The devastation extends to Alipur and Sitpur, where thousands of acres of farmland lie submerged, and in Liaqatpur, 21 villages have been directly affected. In Lodhran, two protective dikes gave way, inundating populated areas. Drone-assisted rescue operations were deployed to extract stranded families. According to officials, nearly 5,000 villages across Punjab have been inundated, with more than 100 confirmed fatalities. Over 4.5 million people have been affected, and 2.45 million have been evacuated to safer locations. Some respite was reported in central Punjab, where water levels in the Ravi River began receding at Head Sidhnai, though a moderate flood warning remains in effect. The Sutlej also showed signs of decline, with flows at Ganda Singh Wala dropping by 78,000 cusecs. Even so, low- to moderate-level flood alerts persist at Head Sulemanki and Head Islam.
PM Shehbaz to attend Arab-Muslim Summit on Israeli strikes in Qatar ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Foreign Office on Saturday confirmed the participation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders in Qatar to denounce Israel’s attack on Hamas officials in Doha and to show solidarity with the Gulf state. Qatar said earlier Saturday it would hold the emergency moot in light of the recent developments in the region. Foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said Monday’s meeting would consider “a draft resolution on the Israeli attack on the state of Qatar” to be drafted on Sunday at a ministerial meeting. Israel targeted Hamas leaders on Tuesday in strikes on the Qatari capital, killing five Hamas members and a Qatari security
officer. The attack drew widespread international condemnation, including from Gulf monarchies allied with the United States, Israel’s main backer. Al-Ansari was quoted as saying by the official QNA news agency that the summit reflected “broad Arab and Islamic solidarity with the State of Qatar in the face of Israel’s cowardly aggression … and the categorical rejection of Israel’s state terrorism.” Confirming PM Shehbaz’s participation, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement posted on X that Pakistan was a co-sponsor of the summit. It added that Israeli attempts to occupy Gaza, expand settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and forcibly displace Palestinians were also part of the decision to hold the summit. “Heads of states and governments and
President Zardari reaffirms Pak-China ‘Iron-Clad’ friendship at Chengdu Forum ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to work with China and other nations to expand cultural exchanges, strengthen creative industries and promote understanding and tolerance—stressing that Pakistan-China friendship remains a model of “iron-clad” brotherhood. The president was addressing the Second Golden Panda Awards International Culture Forum in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, attended by senior Chinese leaders, cultural representatives, artists and international delegates, the President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release. He underlined that as Pakistan and China prepare to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, their partnership stands as both strategic and people-centric, rooted in mutual respect and cooperation. President Zardari expressed Pakistan’s full support for China’s vision of “civilization exchange and mutual learning” and highlighted the importance of President Xi Jinping’s three initiatives—the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and Global Governance Initiative (GGI)—for advancing sustainable growth, regional stability, and inclusive cooperation. He noted that the GGI in particular promotes respect for cultural diversity, equality among civilizations, and dialogue to counter divisive narratives of a “clash of civilizations.” Applauding China’s approach under President Xi, he said Beijing offers the world “cooperation and win-win solutions instead of confrontation.” He praised artistic and cultural endeavours such as the Panda Awards, saying creativity “transcends borders and connects people through shared human values.” He also congratulated the award winners and thanked the Sichuan provincial government, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the forum organisers for their hospitality.
senior officials from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member countries are expected to participate in the summit. The summit will be preceded by the preparatory meeting of the foreign ministers on September 14, 2025. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will participate in the preparatory session,” the FO said. The FO reiterated that Pakistan accorded high importance to its relations with Qatar and strongly condemned Israeli aggression against the country and other regional states. Among the leaders attending will be Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, will also be in Doha, but confirmation of his attendance at the meeting is pending.
Analysts say the summit is meant to send Israel a clear signal. Qatar, which hosts the largest US base in the region, plays a mediation role in the Gaza war alongside the United States and Egypt. The Israeli strikes were “seen across the Gulf as an unprecedented violation of sovereignty and an attack on diplomacy itself,” Andreas Krieg of King’s College London said, adding the summit signalled that “such aggression can’t be normalized.” “The objective is to establish unambiguous boundaries and eliminate Israel’s perception of operating with impunity,” he stated. “Expect a sharper stance on Palestine and a harder edge on Israeli actions.” Earlier, US President Donald Trump held dinner with the Qatari prime minister in
New York on Friday. Separately, Trump expressed annoyance about the strike in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and sought to assure the Qataris that such attacks would not happen again. US special envoy Steve Witkoff, a top Trump adviser, joined Trump and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. “Great dinner with POTUS. The meeting has just ended,” Hamah Al-Muftah, Qatar’s deputy chief of mission, said on X. The White House confirmed the dinner had taken place but offered no details. The session followed an hour-long meeting that al-Thani had at the White House on Friday with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.