The frequency of terror attacks in Pakistan against state machinery and institutions doesn’t seem to diminish yet. As the past week also observed many encounters between militants and Pakistani forces mostly in KPK and Balochistan provinces, Pakistani intelligence agencies have also increased their intelligence based operations to break down the networks of militancy. Such incidents reported in the past week only are listed below :-

·       According to a statement released by Counter Terrorism Department Sindh on 2^nd October, Aimal Khan alias Hamza & Abdullah alias Mamun - the two militants killed in an operation headed by CTD on 01 October in Karachi belonged to Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). It also says the two formerly belonged to TTP. The statement also gives details of the conducted operation.  Both the militants were wanted in 10 high-level Terrorism cases listed from 2017 to 2021 including attack on Serena Hotel Quetta in April 2021.

·       On 2^nd October, BLF’s spokesperson Gwahram Baloch released a statement in which he accepted the responsibility of targeting check post of Pakistani Army in Mand (Balochistan) on 1^st October with a sniper in which a Pakistani soldiers (he claimed) got martyred.

·       On 3rd October a policeman was killed in Chaman (Balochistan), when unknown gunmen opened fire at a police checkpoint in Bogra Chowk. The body was shifted to a hospital. Levies force and police launched search operation in the area.

·       On 3rd October’s night Pakistani forces’ vehicle was attack with explosive by unidentified armed men in Margat area of Mach district of Balochistan.

·       On 3^rd October a convoy of the security force came under attack in evening in Mattani area on the outskirts of Peshawar city. According to rescue team 4 individuals were injured. According to ISPR Terrorists opened fire on military convoy in Hassan Khel. Pakistani troops initiated a prompt response, effectively engaged & killed 3 terrorists. During exchange of fire, Lance Nk. Muhammad Pannah of Pak Army & Sepoy Shamas Ullah of FC having fought gallantly embraced martyrdom. Pakistani Taliban (TTP), in a later statement, also has claimed responsibility for the attack.

·       On 3^rd October, militants of Balochistan Liberation Front torched two bulldozers of FWO (A construction company of Pakistan Army) at a construction site at Mand (Balochistan).

·       According to ISPR, Four militants were killed in a shoot out with security forces in Ranwal Adda, Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when an hour past midnight (4^th October). They are said to be from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Gandapur/Bhittani group, heavy arms are also recovered. TTP in a statement later has confirmed the killing of its 4 members in the shoot out.

The spokesperson of the group has also added that the fate of the ceasefire will be decided after this incident.

·       On 4^th October, a checkpoint in Sur Kamar area of Jamrud, Khyber Tribal District came under attack by unknown assailants. The Pak-Afghan highway was temporarily closed, however; reopened after a search operation. No casualties were reported by the Police.

·       On 6^th October, in an early morning operation against a key TTP commander, Abdul Rahim in Hassan Khel area, outskirts of Peshawar, at least 3 militants were killed and 2 were injured. According to local sources two loud explosions were also heard near a house that was suspected to be the base of Abdul Raheem.

·       On 6^th October, an unidentified motorcyclist killed a person in Starplus market in main city of Turbat, Kech. The deceased has been identified as Javed S/o Aslam resident of Punjab.

·       On 6^th October, Islamic State Khorasan Province ISKP claimed responsibility for an attack in Tarkho Bazar on the same day in Tehsil Mamund, District Bajaur in which one individual was injured. According to rescue sources, the individual was rushed to nearby hospital for treatment.

·       On 8th October three people were injured when unknown assailants hurled a hand grenade at a house in Phase 1, Hayatabad, Peshawar. Rescue team rushed the injured to a nearby hospital. According to the police officials investigating the case, it could be a case of extortion.

·       On 8th October 2 militants were killed in an intelligence based operation in Engaro Dherai on Mingora bypass, Swat District. Sources say that the militants were planning a “bigger attack”. 2 security personnel including an officer (Captain Zulfiqar) were slightly injured in the shootout. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD ) in a statement said that both militants killed in Swat were experts in IED’s and  travelled to Afghanistan for training, they were from the close circle of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Swat, a sub-group of the TTP. However TTP, in a statement has denied that the two persons killed in the operation had affiliation with the outfit.

·       On 8^th October some militants had blocked the Babursar-Chilas road leading to Gilgit City. Senior Minister of Gilgit Baltistan Ubaidullah Baig who was travelling from Islamabad to his hometown was caught in the midst of the situation, he confirmed that negotiations were underway. Baig also said that the militants had two demands, first the release of some of their jailed members and secondly the observance of principles of Shariah by not allowing women games. He said that the negotiations were being held in a peaceful manner so far. A police official from the area with direct knowledge of the situation and who wished not to be named confirmed the developments. He said, “that the sectarian tensions in the recent past had snowballed into the current situation, we hope the situation will be resolved soon”.

·       On 9^th October a local Salafi Scholar, Sheikh-ul-Hadith Maulana Abdul Aziz was shot dead by unknown armed men in Bara, Khyber Tribal District while on the way from the mosque to his home. Local sources say the scholar had an anti-Daish view point articulated through his sermons. Plus Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan has issued an eulogy for Moulana Abdul Aziz Afridi declaring it “a loss for Khyber Pukhtunkhwa in general and for the people of Khyber district in specific”

·       On 9th October’s evening 2 people including a member of a former peace committee have been shot dead by unknown assailants near Tor Faqeer Ziarat, District Tank, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. Both victims were going to a nearby village on a motorcycle when they came under attack.

·       On 9^th October, some militants attacked a military vehicle in Johan area of district Kalat (Balochistan). It is being said that the vehicle was completely destroyed while a soldier got severely injured.

·       On 9^th October, Lakimarwat, Army and CTD Police in an IBO in Lakimarwat (KPK) successfully arrested most wanted terrorist of TTP, Mumtaz Alias Talha S/O Taj Ali resident of Shah hassan khel. His head bounty was 1.5 Million PKR. Interrogations has been  started off by military intelligence.

·       On 9^th October Security Forces conducted an Intelligence Based Operation in Mir Ali, North Wazirstan District. During the operation, intense fire exchange took place between Pakistani army and TTP terrorists. Resultantly, 3 terrorists got killed. Weapons and ammunition were also recovered. In a statement issued by TTP, it has acknowledged the death of two of its members Bashir alias Morchal & Mairaj alias Watan Yar. .

·       On 10^th October 2 incidents of firing were reported in 2 districts of Malakand Division (Lower Dir and Swat). In both incidents school vans have come under fire, a total of six children have been injured and a driver killed. According to police the incident in Lower Dir is personal enmity. While in  Swat’s Gullibagh area a vehicle carrying school children has been targeted, where the driver was killed and two children have been injured. DIG of Malakand Police said that they are still in the process of investigating whether it’s an incident of terrorism or enmity.

·       On 10^th October, two  people, belonging from Rawalpindi and South Punjab, arrested for bugging and phone hacking of Prime Minister House (PMH) and handed over to intelligence agencies for further investigation, according to government sources.

Apart from that Army Chief of Pakistan (General Qamar Javed Bajwa), who was in the United States on a five-day trip, said the armed forces have distanced themselves from political battle. The top general made the statements during his address at a luncheon at the Pakistani embassy in Washington. He also pledged to retire after the completion of his second three-year term in two months, saying that he is not looking to prolong the role. Officials are tight-lipped over COAS’s informal remarks as he addressed an audience that included a large number of Pakistani diplomats. Shedding light on key topics, COAS termed the revival of the country’s dilapidating economy is paramount importance, saying without a strong economy the nation would not be able to achieve its targets. “There could be no diplomacy either without a strong economy,” a leading publication said quoting COAS Bajwa. Later, Army Chief went to the Pentagon for a meeting with Secretary of Defence Lloyd James Austin III, National Security Advisor Jacob Jeremiah Sullivan, and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Ruth Sherman. During the meetings, according to the military's media wing, matters of mutual of interest, regional security situation, and bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed.

Moreover earlier this week, Former Finance Minister & PML(N) leader Miftah Ismail has blamed Pakistani military establishment to be behind recent amendments in NAB Laws leading to de-powering of National Accountability Bureu. It is to be noted here that the key benefactors of the recent amendments have been Miftah’s own party leadership most notably PM Shahbaz himself,  his niece Maryam Safdar (d/o Nawaz Sharif) and  Ishaq Dar (new finance minister). Apart from that Islamabad High Court on last Monday accepted former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s  written apology in a contempt charge of  stemming from remarks against a  judge that were seen as threatening, quashing the case. Also on 4^th October Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari following former PM Imran’s policy has said Pakistan would not take sides between the West and Russia on the Ukraine war. In another statement by current PM Shahbaz on the same day he said that  he is “deeply obliged” to the Chinese government for helping the flood-affected people of Pakistan, increasing the aid volume to $90 million. Also recently a Pakistani court has released arrest orders of Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on corruption charges. The anti-corruption department of Punjab has maid one failed attempt to arrest him yet however they haven’t been successful yet due to lack of cooperation by Islamabad Police. Moreover this week the outlawed anti state group BLA has released images of detained Pakistani Military Officials in Harani Balochistan & said BLA is ready to engage in prisoner swep with Pakistani Military. The two military officials were kidnapped by BLA on previous week. Apart from that, on 6^th October Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency rescued 6 Indian fishermen who were drowning close to the International Maritime Boundary Line between Pakistan and India. After rescuing them and doing the initial checkups, they were handed over to Indian Coast Guard.

 Analysis

 The current uncertainty and instability in political and economic construction in Pakistan are impacting general public’s lives to most extent. People of Pakistan are getting frustrated day by day due to alarming inflation (amid low employment rate) and disturbed law and order situations as well as political mistrust. Moreover the former PM imran Khan is putting more and more pressure everyday on government and establishment to announce general elections in other to attain political stability otherwise he along with his supporters throughout the country are at the verge of a final march towards the capital which can potentially create a chaos across the country. In my opinion it is very necessary that general elections should be held to the soonest so as to avoid the political chaos as well as the internal/external security and economical threats.