Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Pakistan army loses 12 soldiers in militant attacks

Security officials say militants hurled grenades into a military mess and then waged a gun battle

Pakistan army loses 12 soldiers in militant attacks

PAKISTAN'S army said on Wednesday (12) it lost 12 soldiers in suspected militant attacks, including an assault on one of its bases.

Nine soldiers were killed at the base which the Islamist militants stormed into armed with guns, hand grenades and rockets, the army and security officials said.

In a separate incident, the army said three more soldiers died in an exchange of fire with heavily armed "terrorists" in Sui district in the province. Two enemy combatants also died in that exchange.

The army said all five militants who stormed the base in early hours were killed in retaliatory fire. Late at night, the army announced completion of an operation to clear the area district Zhob of southern Balochistan province.

Three security officials said the militants first hurled grenades into a military mess at the base and then waged a gun battle lasting several hours.

"Initial attempts by the terrorists to sneak into the facility was checked by soldiers on duty," the army statement said, and "in the ensuing heavy exchange of fire, the terrorists were contained into a small area at the boundary" of the base.

A newly founded jihadist group called Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) claimed responsibility for the assault, saying in a statement it would release pictures and videos of its fighters who took part.

Balochistan, a mineral-rich region that borders Afghanistan and Iran, has been troubled by a decades-old ethnic Baloch insurgency.

Islamist militants, who aim to overthrow the Pakistani government and install their own brand of strict Islamic law in the predominantly Muslim country of 220 million people, have also been active in Balochistan.

They have stepped up attacks since revoking a ceasefire agreement with the government in late 2022, including the bombing of a mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar that killed more than 100 people in January.

The Pakistani government says militants have shifted operational bases to Afghanistan. Kabul's Islamist Taliban governmentdenies this.

(Reuters)

More For You

UK Tourism Growth Hit by Government Policies, Says Travel Body

UK remained one of the world’s most‑visited countries

Getty

Travel body blames government for harming UK tourism growth

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has accused the UK government of “sabotaging” the country’s tourism sector after international visitor spending fell by over £2 billion in 2024 compared with pre‑pandemic levels. In a new WTTC study, visitors to the UK spent £40.3 billion last year—a 5.3 per cent decline on the £42.6 billion recorded in 2019.

The WTTC, which represents the global travel and tourism private sector, said ministers had made “deliberate policy choices” that erected “barriers to travel” and discouraged high‑value tourists. Policies cited include the removal of tax‑free shopping, rising air passenger duty (APD) rates and the introduction—and subsequent fee increase—of the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme for non‑UK nationals.

Keep ReadingShow less
pope-francis-getty

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he became the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the office. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Key moments in the life of Pope Francis

POPE FRANCIS, who has died at the age of 88, led the Catholic Church through a period of reform, challenge, and global engagement.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he became the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the office.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mohammed Shaheeb,

Shaheeb, who was already banned from driving until March 2027, was arrested at the scene. (Photo: West Midlands Police)

West Midlands Police

Man jailed for ramming police vehicles in Birmingham

A MAN has been jailed for 22 weeks after ramming three police vehicles and a civilian car while trying to flee from officers in Birmingham.

Mohammed Shaheeb, 39, was spotted apparently asleep in a parked VW Scirocco with tape over part of the number plate on Montpellier Street on 5 October last year.

Keep ReadingShow less
vaisakhi

The family-friendly event also included a funfair with children's rides and games

iStock

Smethwick comes alive with colour and culture for Vaisakhi celebrations

Smethwick High Street was transformed into a lively hub of colour, music and community spirit as thousands gathered to celebrate Vaisakhi, one of the most significant festivals in the Sikh calendar.

Organised by the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick, the event took place on Sunday, 11 May 2025, from 10am to 7pm, covering both the High Street and Victoria Park. The celebration marked the creation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699, a central event in Sikh history.

Keep ReadingShow less
kashmir attack

Indian police officers stand guard at a check point following an attack, near Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.

Reuters

Gunmen open fire on tourists in Indian Kashmir, at least 24 dead

AT LEAST 24 people were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on tourists, a senior police officer told AFP. Authorities said it was the worst attack on civilians in years.

The shooting took place in Pahalgam, a popular summer tourist destination around 90 kilometres from Srinagar. A senior police officer in the region, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the death toll.

Keep ReadingShow less