Pakistan Army

Pakistan Army hands 45,000 acres for 'corporate agriculture farming'

According to informed sources, the JV has been signed between the military, the Punjab government, and private firms dealing with corporate farming

Army will not be available for election duty: Pakistan govt tells EC

The Pakistan Army considers security of borders as its first priority and will not be available for poll duty in the upcoming provincial elections due to the "current situation" in the country, the defence ministry has informed the election commission. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) held back-to-back meetings with top Punjab officials and the secretary and additional secretary of the federal defence ministry to discuss security for the elections. Elections in the Punjab province of Pakistan are scheduled to be held on April 30, while in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the governor has proposed to hold elections in the province on May 28. Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Hamood Uz Zaman Khan led a team of his ministry in a meeting chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a press statement on Tuesday that the defence secretary along with Additional Secretary Maj Gen Khurram Sarfraz Khan briefed the CEC

Seven TTP militants killed in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

Pakistan's security forces gunned down seven Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, including three under-trial prisoners, in the country's restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province after the terrorists opened fire at a security squad, police said on Tuesday. The terrorists attacked a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) team which was shifting detained militants affiliated with the outlawed group to the Bannu district of the province on Monday, a CTD official said The attack, aimed at freeing the detained prisoners, led to a gun battle in which seven terrorists, including the three prisoners, were killed while others escaped. The official said those killed were involved in previous attacks on the security forces. They were wanted for an attack on the Bannu Cantonment police and the targeted killing of a constable. A heavy contingent of police was deployed in the area, and a massive combing operation was launched to catch the escaped terrorists. The TTP, set up as an umbrella group o

Ex-Pak general convicted of espionage pardoned by new military leadership

A retired Pakistani general convicted of sharing "classified information" with foreign spies has been pardoned by the new military leadership and released from prison.

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif to convene NSC meeting to discuss growing militancy

Top civil and military leaders of Pakistan are set to meet in a National Security Committee (NSC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday to discuss the strategy to counter the rising threat of militancy in the country. The NSC meeting would also be attended by all service chiefs, key cabinet ministers, and other high officials. The decision to convene the meeting was taken after Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir called on Prime Minister Sharif on Thursday to brief him about professional as well as national security matters, according to government officials. Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum will brief the meeting on the recent terror wave in Pakistan and the Pakistan-Afghan border situation, while an integrated strategy against terrorism would be formulated, The News International newspaper reported. Official sources said that the meeting would discuss the modalities to counter the latest threat by the outlawed ...

6 killed, 17 injured in Pakistan's Balochistan as Afghan forces open fire

At least six Pakistani nationals were killed and 17 others injured on Sunday when Afghan border troops resorted to unprovoked and indiscriminate fire across the border into Balochistan's Chaman district, the army said. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, heavy weapons including artillery and mortars were used in the firing by Afghan forces. The Afghan Border Forces opened unprovoked and indiscriminate fire of heavy weapons including artillery and mortar onto the civilian population, it said in a statement. Six Pakistani civilians were killed and 17 others injured in the firing, it said. The injured have been shifted to a local hospital, and the police have cordoned off the area, according to Samaa TV. Pakistan's border forces have responded through retaliatory firing, the statement said. The Pakistan government has approached Afghan authorities in Kabul to highlight the severity of the situation and demanded strict action to av

No one to disrupt gains of war against terrorism, says Pak Army chief

Pakistan's recently appointed Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, said on Tuesday that no one would be allowed to disrupt the hard-earned gains of the war against terrorism. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, Gen. Munir made these remarks during his visit to Tirah Valley in Khyber district on the western border with Afghanistan. General Munir said that defence of the motherland will be ensured at all costs and there won't be any space for spoilers of peace. "No one will be allowed to disrupt the hard-earned gains of war against terror made thus far," he was quoted as saying. While interacting with officers and men, General Munir praised them for their high morale and operational readiness in the line of duty. The COAS said that the state's writ has been established due to innumerable sacrifices by tribal people and security forces. "Our fight against terrorism will continue with the support of the nation till we achieve endurin

Pakistani security forces kill terrorist commander in Waziristan

Pakistan's security forces have killed a terrorist commander, wanted for his involvement in high profile terror activities, during an exchange of fire in the country's troubled northwest, the army has said. Muhammad Noor alias Sarakai was killed during an encounter with the security forces in North Waziristan's general area Shewa on December 2, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) the media wing of the army - said on Saturday. Noor was wanted by the Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) for his involvement in several terror activities against the security forces and also several kidnapping and ransom cases. During intense exchange of fire, Muhammad Noor alias Sarakai, a notorious terrorist commander was killed. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist, it added. Last month, a Pakistan Army soldier was killed in a gun battle with terrorists in South Waziristan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Ready for war with India if attacked, warns Pak's new Army chief Asim Munir

Pakistan's newly-appointed Army chief General Asim Munir on Saturday said that if his country is attacked, the Pakistani armed forces will "not only defend every inch of our motherland, but to take the fight back to the enemy." Munir made the remarks during his first-ever visit to troops in the frontline areas in Rakhchikri Sector of the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday. We have noticed highly irresponsible statements from Indian leadership on Gilgit Baltistan and Jammu and Kashmir recently. Let me make it categorically clear, Pakistan's armed forces are ever ready, not only to defend every inch of our motherland, but to take the fight back to the enemy, if ever, war is imposed on us, he said. General Munir on November 24 replaced General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who retired after serving two consecutive three-year terms as the Army chief in the coup-prone country, where the military wields considerable power in matters of security and foreign policy. During his visit to the frontline .

US looks forward to continuing working with Pakistan, says White House

The United States is looking forward to continue working with Pakistan, the White House said on Wednesday as a new general takes charge as the chief of army staff in Islamabad. Lt General Asim Munir was formally handed over the command of the Pakistan Army On Tuesday. "The United States values our longstanding cooperation with Pakistan and has always viewed a prosperous and democratic Pakistan is critical to US interests," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a news conference here. "We look forward to continue to work with Pakistan to promote stability, prosperity for the people of Pakistan and the region, the press Secretary said in response to a question on the change in guard in Islamabad.

General Asim Munir takes charge as Pakistan's new Army chief

General Asim Munir, Pakistan's former spymaster, on Tuesday assumed charge as the country's new Army chief, replacing Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa who retired after two consecutive three-year terms. Munir assumed charge during an impressive ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ), becoming the 17th Chief of the Army Staff. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on November 24 nominated Munir to the most powerful position in the coup-prone country, where the military wields considerable power in matters of security and foreign policy. He is the first Army chief who has headed both powerful intelligence agencies - the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Military Intelligence (MI). His stint as the spy chief at the ISI was the shortest ever as he was replaced by Lt Gen Faiz Hamid within eight months on the insistence of then-Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2019. The powerful Army, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its 75-plus years of existence, has hitherto wielded considerable po

Blatant lies: Pakistan Army rejects claims on Gen Bajwa, family's assets

Pakistan Army on Sunday rejected media reports that the outgoing chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa's family members and relatives became billionaires during his six-year tenure, terming them as misleading and based on "blatant lies and malice. Gen Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after getting a three-year extension. According to the report published by the FactFocus website, the alleged tax records of Gen Bajwa's family, the current market value of the known assets and business of the army chief, both within and outside Pakistan, amounted to Rs 12.7 billion. Pakistan Army finally broke its silence on Sunday, days after the Shehbaz Sharif-led government launched a probe and suspended two officers from service for their involvement in leaking the tax records of Gen Bajwa and his family members. Pakistan Army's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, said misleading data regarding the assets of Army chief Gen Bajwa and his family were shared on social media, and the sa

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif names Lt Gen Asim Munir the next army chief

Under Imran Khan, Munir was removed from the post of the ISI chief within eight months of his appointment and replaced with Lt Gen Faiz Hameed in 2019

Pakistan govt receives names of senior generals for next Army chief

The clouds of uncertainty around the appointment of Pakistan's new army chief began to clear on Wednesday after the government announced on Wednesday that it has received the names of six senior generals for the post to succeed incumbent General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Gen Bajwa, 61, is scheduled to retire on November 29 after a three-year extension. He has ruled out seeking another extension. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) issued a brief statement on Twitter that it received the summary from the Ministry of Defence for the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee (CJCSC). The prime minister will take a decision on the appointments as per the laid down procedure, according to the statement. The Army also confirmed that it had sent the names of six top lieutenant generals for the appointments. Although it did not mention the names, but it is believed that the six men include Lt Gen Asim Munir (currently Quarter Master General),

Pak army chief's family members became billionaires in six years: Report

A damaging report has shed light on the sharp rise of wealth of close family members of Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa's in a span of six years

Differences intensify in Pak govt over appointment of new Army chief

Differences seem to have intensified in the Pakistan government over the appointment of the new Army chief with top brasses of the ruling coalition making contradictory statements on the key issue. The appointment of a successor to Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, 61, who is set to retire on November 29, is an administrative matter. Under the law, the incumbent prime minister is empowered to select any one of the top three-star generals. But politically it means installing someone who may pull the strings and even determine the fate of the person who appointed him. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday initiated the keenly anticipated consultations with his government allies on the all-important appointment of a new Army chief, even as Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed that a name would be announced by Tuesday or Wednesday, the Dawn News reported on Saturday. Interestingly, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said consultations had been completed and the new Army chief woul

Pak govt seek constitutional amendment to empower PM to retain army chief

The planned amendment of the Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 would empower the prime minister to retain an incumbent Army chief with a simple notification rather than through a complex process

National Security Council: The root of the conflict? Explained in numbers

The NSC was formed, along with a dedicated secretariat of the National Security Division, in 2013, to fill the huge void that existed in policy-making

Imran Khan the demolisher

There has always been a risk-taking edge to Imran Khan. Like him or hate him, it had to be someone like him to finally threaten to demolish the Establishment

Imran Khan addresses nation, says he knew about the assassination plot

I already knew about their plan to attack me but I will continue to call out the corrupt who are stealing people's money, said Khan in his address to the nation a day after he was shot in the leg