16 killed in suicide blast in Kohat

At least 16 people were killed while several others injured when a bomber ripped through a barber shop located at Tirah Bazaar in Kohat, News Trends reported on Wednesday.

The DPO Kohat Dilawar Bangash confirmed the death toll, while rise in casualties is feared.

The bomber is said to have hit a barber shop.

Law enforcement agencies rushed the spot and cordoned off the area while rescue efforts are being kicked off. The injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals.

Suicide attack on Darra Adam Khel mosque kills 30

Staff Report

KOHAT: At least 30 people were killed and scores of others wounded after a suicide bomber ripped through a crowded mosque in Darra Adam Khel on Friday.

The blast took place at a time when people were offering Friday prayers.

Confirming the suicide attack, Kohat’s commissioner said roof of the mosque has collapsed, leaving dozens of people stranded under the rubble.

The commissioner said that rescue efforts are under way to rescue the stranded people.

According to reports, a large number of people were present in the mosque at the time of the blast.

Law enforcement agencies reached the scene and cordoned off the area.

Meanwhile, the injured are being shifted to different hospitals, where emergency has been declared. Trend Pk

Pak Army and PHD launch Multan-D.I.Khan bridge

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan army engineers, in collaboration with the Punjab Highway Department (PHD) have launched a 31 meter long bridge at Sanawan-Karam Dad Qureshi Mor (turn) which will provide access to all types of traffic from DG Khan to Multan.

According to a press release issued by Inter Services Public Relations, Pakistan (ISPR), the army engineers have also opened the Alpurai-Karora road to light traffic in Malakand Division. Meanwhile relief and rescue efforts by army troops in flood hit areas continue. 12 trucks and a C-130s loaded with relief goods were dispatched on Saturday from Gujranwala for the flood affected populace of KP and Quetta respectively.

So far from Gujranwala, 40 truck loads of relief items have been sent to KP and 45 tons of ration have been sent to Balochistan. From Karachi, 539 tons of relief goods have been dispatched to flood affected

Afghan-related files of Pak agencies leaked

WASHINGTON: The US government has condemned the leak of more than 90,000 military documents on the war in Afghanistan, including details of Afghan civilian deaths, covert operations against the Taliban.

Pakistan”s ambassador to the United States on Sunday denounced the leak of secret files on the Afghan war and insisted his nation was fully committed to fighting insurgents.

Ambassador Hussain Haqqani called the release of the file by web whistleblower site Wikileaks “irresponsible,” saying it consisted of “unprocessed” reports from the field.

“The documents circulated by Wikileaks do not reflect the current on ground realities,” Haqqani said in a statement.

“The United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan are strategic partners and are jointly endeavoring to defeat Al-Qaeda and its Taliban allies militarily and politically,” he said.

James Jones, the US national security adviser, said the US “strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organisations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk and threaten our national security”.

“These irresponsible leaks will not impact our ongoing commitment to deepen our partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan; to defeat our common enemies; and to support the aspirations of the Afghan and Pakistani people.”

The unverified documents allegedly consists largely of classified reports and assessments from junior officers in the field that analysts use to advise policymakers.

It is unclear who the source of the leaked documents is, and Jones did not address the veracity of the information contained in the leaks.

He did point out that the documents “reportedly cover a period of time from January 2004 to December 2009″, the bulk of which time George Bush, the former US president, was in office.

Jones also noted that Barack Obama, who took over from Bush, announced on December 1, 2009 “a new strategy with a substantial increase in resources for Afghanistan, and increased focus on al- Qaeda and Taliban safe-havens in Pakistan”.

“This shift in strategy addressed challenges in Afghanistan that were the subject of an exhaustive policy review last fall,” Jones said.

The documents were released by the online whistle-blower Wikileaks website, which gave US newspaper The New York Times, Britain”s Guardian newspaper and the German weekly Der Spiegel access earlier.

Eric Schmitt, one of the New York Times reporters who worked on the story, told said that the documents gave an unvarnished view of the war – a “very fine grain, down on the ground level detail that hasn”t been revealed before … whether it”s in firefights or drone activities, secret operations performed by commandos of the CIA”.

They painted “a much grimmer picture and portrayal than either the Bush or Obama administrations have allowed so far,” he said.

According to the reports, the US deploys special forces to work from a capture or kill list, missions that were stepped up under the Obama administration and that have led to some civilian deaths.

Also, the US has tried to cover up the fact that the Taliban have heat seeking surface to air missiles.

And the documents say the CIA expanded paramilitary operations in Afghanistan and ran the Afghan spy agency from 2001-2008.

The documents also describe US fears that ally Pakistan”s intelligence service was aiding the Taliban.

According to the Times, the documents suggest Pakistan “allows representatives of its spy service to meet directly with the Taliban in secret strategy sessions to organise networks of militant groups that fight against American soldiers in Afghanistan, and even hatch plots to assassinate Afghan leaders”.

That prompted Pakistan”s ambassador to the US to denounce the leak and insist his nation was fully committed to fighting al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Hussain Haqqani called the release of the files “irresponsible” and said it consisted of “unprocessed” reports from the field.

He added the democratically elected government in Pakistan led by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, is committed to fight and alienate the terrorists and Pakistan armed forces and intelligence agencies are effectively pursuing the same policy.

Quetta Scrap Market blaze tamed

QUETTA: After the untiring three-hour long fire-extinguishing efforts, the fierce fire, broke out at an Scrap Market located on a Double Road in Quetta, has been brought under control late on Sunday night, Geo New reported.

CCPO Quetta told Geo news that the incident of fire eruption will be thoroughly investigated.

The ferocious fire gutted over 150 scrap and other shops before being put out within three hours, however, no loss of life or injury was reported, witnesses and fire fighting sources confirmed.

Meanwhile, the fiery scene is witnessing thick clouds of dark smoke surrounding the area, which have sent people in a great trouble.

Witnesses said fire erupted on a mini petrol pump, located at the back of scrap market late night, seized the entire market in no time.

Shops like motor workshop, scrap, spare parts and many others were completely gutted by fire besides burning garments and blankets kept in nearby storerooms.

Subsequently, fire tenders arrived on the spot and started rescue efforts, which took over three hours in bringing fire under control, they said further.

No clue has been ascertained so far which could lead to cause of fire eruption, officials said.

Water outflow from Attabad spillway at 16k cusecs

HUNZA: The boat service for local residents suspended on May 16 has been restored in Attabad Lake while the water incoming at lake has risen to 16000 cusecs per day, Geo news reported official sources.

The section 144 had been clamped around Ataabad Lake on May 16 for fear of anticipated flooding in lake and areas around while the boat service had also been suspended.

Heli service had got underway for people particularly residing in upper Hunza Gojal areas, which is still continued uninterruptedly.

Only the cargo service was restored for transportation of goods in the face of expected flooding a week ago but now; the boat service has also been brought on business.

US drone strike kills 4 in NWaziristan

WANA: At least four militants have been killed in two US drone strikes in Kari Kot locality in North Waziristan on Tuesday morning, Geo news reported.

According to sources, two missiles were fired on a house, resulted in killings of a total of four alleged extremists.

Local residents have kicked off rescue efforts on their own following deadly missile onslaught, sources said.

The latest death toll will be ascertained following completion of rescue activities.

Blasting to widen spillway at Attabad Lake underway

HUNZA: The process of blasting three giant stones, aiming at widening spillway at Attabad Lake, has been kicked off early on Tuesday morning, Geo news reported.

The water outflow through Attabad spillway is being witnessed at nearly 9500 cusecs after the process of blasting got underway this morning, lake administration said.

Fierce land sliding from big mountains situated along Attabad lake also continues for sometimes, whereas, experts predicted that water outgoing from lake will remain on rise if every thing works as planned.

Meanwhile, a total of two hotels and six houses in Gulmat and another two houses in Shah Kat places have been submerged under water owing to rise in water level at lake.

Heli service is still underway as part of relief and rescue efforts for effectes in low-lying areas, witnessed confirmed to media.

40,000 may be evacuated in southern Philippine floods

MANILA: Up to 40,000 people may be forcibly evacuated after torrential rains caused heavy flooding in the southern Philippines, an official said Tuesday.

Ten villages in the town of Sultan Kudarat on southern Mindanao island were under waist-deep waters after a river overflowed its banks due to rains that began on Friday, local social welfare department head Pombaen Kadir said.

“We are preparing to evacuate them,” Kadir told media.

“They still do not want to leave their homes which are now under waist-deep water, but we may force them to leave once the situation deteriorates.”

She said the main highway that cuts through the affected areas had been rendered impassable to light vehicles.

Army troops in the area have also dispatched trucks to help in the planned evacuation efforts, she said.

Storm Agatha kills 142 in Central America

WASHINGTON: Flooding and landslides from rain dumped by Tropical Storm Agatha has raised the death toll to 142 in Central America according to a report by the media.

The storm hit Saturday night, and has pummeled regions of Honduras and El Salvador with heavy rains.

Guatemala is the country worst hit. Guatemala was already under a state of emergency since last week after Pacaya Volcano began erupting, covering Guatemala City in ash forcing the closure of the main airport. The state of emergency has been extended.

Officials said 118 are confirmed dead, 53 are still missing and shelters in the country are overflowing with 110,000 homeless according to media.

In addition, the country’s infrastructure has been severely affected. Washed away roads are hampering rescue efforts and waterlines are broken.

Next Page »