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In Brief
POLITICS
Elections in Karabakh are deemed unlawful by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry
On 10 September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Karabakh was deemed as Azerbaijan's sovereign territory and that any attempt to hold elections there by the unlawfully imposed regime be both morally and legally repugnant. The ministry's spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, responded to a question by stating that the conduct of elections in the Caucasus was "a grave violation of the UN Charter and principles of established international law." (“Pakistan calls elections in Karabakh illegal,” Dawn, 11 September 2023)
Torkham border issue negotiations at a standstill
On 10 September, talks between the two nations to restore the Torkham border failed to yield any positive outcomes. The primary crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed for a fifth day. After a firefight between border security personnel from Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Torkham border crossing was closed on 6 September. The building of a new post by the Afghan Taliban near the border catalyzed the fighting. This construction is viewed as a breach of the two countries' agreement by Pakistan. According to the Afghan Taliban, the gunfight claimed the lives of at least two of its border guards. Since then, the border has been closed. (Kamran Yousaf, “No headway in talks on Torkham issue,” The Express Tribune, 11 September 2023)
Iranian oil being smuggled into Pakistan
On 11 September, The Civil Intelligence Agency filed a report on oil smuggling to the Prime Minister House, that found more than 2.81 billion Liters of oil being smuggled from Iran to Pakistan each year. Due to this breach, it is estimated that Pakistan is losing more than PKR 60 billion. It was also found that 90 government personnel and 29 politicians were also involved in this crime and that terrorist groups were using the earnings from oil smuggling for personal gain. As many as 995 gasoline pump outlets around the nation are involved in the selling of Iranian oil that has been smuggled. (Naveed Butt, “Smuggling of Iranian oil into Pakistan: 90 govt officials, 29 politicians found involved,” Business Recorder, 11 September 2023)
SECURITY
Security forces in Chitral kill seven terrorists and gravely wound six others: ISPR
On 10 September, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that the security forces engaged terrorists in a firefight in the Chitral area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing seven and gravely injuring six others. ISPR stated that the clash occurred on Saturday in the general region of the Ursoon district when "troops effectively engaged terrorists' location." The region was being sanitized, it was further stated, to ensure that there were no nearby terrorists. Locals expressed their support for the security forces' efforts to eradicate terrorism from the nation and expressed appreciation for the operation, according to the ISPR. ( Iftikhar Shirazi, “7 terrorists killed, 6 critically injured by security forces in Chitral: ISPR,” Dawn, 10 September 2023)
EXTERNAL
US Senator Van Hollen affirms to aid Pakistan's economic resurgence
On 11 September, Senator Van Hollen, who was born in Karachi, stressed the importance of a lasting relationship between the United States and Pakistan at the annual meeting of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) chapter of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA). He added that the United States would continue to help Islamabad's attempts to stabilize its economy and that it had been "very instrumental" in securing the most recent economic assistance for Pakistan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). (Anwar Iqbal, “US to support economic recovery in Pakistan,” Dawn, 11 September 20223)
Karachi detains forty 'illegal' Afghan immigrants
On 10 September, more than forty Afghan people were allegedly detained by police for residing in the city without valid travel permits. They said that a citywide operation on illegal immigration had begun, during which police forces from various areas detected suspicious individuals and verified their identity credentials. They also said that 50 unauthorized immigrants in all had been detained. SSP-East Irfan Bahadur reported that the district police conducted raids and caught 19 Afghans who were living illegally in the city. He described the events in detail, stating that the Ferozabad police apprehended 10 people while the Mobina Town police detained nine Afghans and opened complaints against them. ( “50 ‘illegal’ Afghan immigrants held in Karachi,” Dawn, 11 September 2023)
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