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Pakistani Forces Kill 54 Militants Along Afghan Border in Major Operation
Pakistani security forces have killed 54 militants attempting to cross into the country from Afghanistan, the military announced on Sunday, marking one of the deadliest operations in recent years along the volatile border.
According to a statement issued by the military, the infiltration attempt took place near North Waziristan, a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Intelligence reports identified the slain insurgents as “Khwarij,” a term used by the Pakistani government to refer to members of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The military did not directly attribute responsibility but indicated that the militants had been “sent by their foreign masters” to conduct high-profile terrorist attacks within Pakistan.
The infiltration comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Pakistani officials noted that the attempt occurred as India levels accusations against Pakistan following a deadly assault on tourists in India-administered Kashmir. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tatar told foreign media that New Delhi’s accusations are an attempt to distract Pakistan from its security focus on the western border.
Violence has surged in Pakistan over recent months, with most attacks blamed on the TTP, a militant group allied with the Afghan Taliban. Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, many TTP fighters and leaders are believed to have sought refuge across the border, straining relations between Islamabad and Kabul.
The Pakistani military’s swift action highlights growing concerns about cross-border militancy and the potential for destabilization at a time when Pakistan is grappling with internal security challenges and regional diplomatic tensions.
Authorities have stepped up border surveillance and intelligence efforts as they brace for potential further infiltration attempts, underscoring the fragile security landscape along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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