2 TTP terrorists killed in Pak
PESHAWAR, Oct 18: Pakistani security forces on Saturday killed two terrorists belonging to the banned TTP terror outfit in an intelligence-based operation in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The operation was conducted in the Mughal Kot sector of the Bannu district, according to security forces. It specifically targeted the network of the Tariq Kachhi group of “Fitna al-Khwarij”, they said. The Pakistan government last year notified the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as “Fitna al-Khawarij”, a reference to a group in earlier Islamic history which was involved in violence. Security officials confirmed that a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the slain terrorists. The Tariq Kachhi group has been actively involved in terrorist activities over the past two years and was also engaged in extortion. The group facilitated cross-border infiltration of terrorists from Afghanistan into Pakistan, according to the sources. (PTI)
Balochistan abduction: Son of government official found
QUETTA, Oct 18: Security agencies have found Mustansar Bilal, the son of Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Afzal Baqi, who was kidnapped near Ziarat in Balochistan two months ago. Mustansar returned to the Zardalo area of Harnai and was taken into protective custody. However, AC Baqi remains missing, with authorities intensifying efforts for his safe recovery. The official and his son were abducted by armed men near Harnai while returning from a family picnic. The kidnappers released the family members, security guard, and driver after setting the official vehicle on fire. Police suspect that AC Baqi might have been killed, but there is no official confirmation. Kidnapping and targeted killings of government officials are common in Balochistan due to ongoing insurgent activity by banned armed groups. Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has acknowledged the situation but confirmed no official updates on Baqi’s status. (PTI)
British military: Ship ablaze after strike near Yemen
DUBAI, Oct 18: A Cameroon-flagged tanker caught fire Saturday in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen after being struck by an unknown projectile, the British military reported. The incident, about 210 km east of Aden, prompted a search-and-rescue operation as the crew prepared to abandon ship. While Yemen’s Houthi rebels have frequently targeted ships in the Red Sea corridor, they have not yet claimed responsibility for this attack. The Houthis, prominent amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, have carried out numerous assaults on shipping, killing at least nine mariners and sinking four ships, severely disrupting trade through the vital Red Sea route. Their latest known attack was on the Dutch cargo ship Minervagracht on September 29, resulting in one death and one injury. Since an October 10 ceasefire, no new attacks have been claimed. The Houthis have also threatened Saudi Arabia and detained dozens of UN and aid workers, accusing them of spying—allegations strongly denied by the UN and other organizations. (AP)
