Suicide Bombing Bombing /IEDs
Three coaches of the Jaffar Express train were derailed due to an explosion near Sultanpur in Shikarpur District of Sindh on July 28, leaving one person injured, reports Dawn. Sukkur Railways Divisional Superintendent Jamshaid Alam said that the Jaffar Express was travelling from Peshawar to Quetta when it was caught in the explosion near Sultanpur.
Three people, two civilians and one Policeman, were killed while 20 others, including Policemen, sustained injuries when a bomb blast took place near a Police patrol van in the Rustum Bazar area of Wana town in South Waziristan District on August 8, reports Aaj TV.
Targetted Killings
A Balochistan Constabulary acting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and a constable were killed and two others personnel suffered injuries on July 18 when unidentified terrorists opened fire on their vehicle on National Highway on Dasht Road in Mastung District of Balochistan, reports Dawn. According to Provincial Government spokesperson Shahid Rind, a Police convoy coming from Kalat to Quetta was targeted by terrorists.
Four terrorists and three Army personnel including a Major were killed during a clash when terrorists targeted Security Forces (SFs) vehicle with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Mastung District on August 6, reports ARY News. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Hindustan, targeted a Security Forces’ vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Mastung District. The deceased personnel were identified as 31-year-old Major Muhammad Rizwan Tahir (Resident of Narowal District, Punjab), 37-years-old Naik Ibni Amin (resident of Swabi District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and 33-years-old Lance Naik Muhammad Younas (resident of Karak District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Major Rizwan Shaheed was a brave officer, who participated in numerous counter terrorism operations and always led his troops from the front, according to ISPR. In the ensuing sanitization of the area, four terrorists were located and killed, the ISPR added.
A clerk in the Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan, Merajuddin, who had been on leave for the past week, and his wife were killed while his cousin sustained injuries when unidentified assailants attacked them at their house in the Tatta Bashikhel area of Lakki Marwat District on August 8, reports Dawn. “The FC official and his cousin Fareedullah were sitting outside their home when two armed suspects wearing masks suddenly appeared from the eastern side,” a Police official said. The attackers opened fire as Merajuddin and Fareed attempted to flee towards the house. Meraj’s wife, Nusrat Bibi, rushed out upon hearing the gunshots and attempted to shield her husband, but was also gunned down by the assailants. Merajuddin’s cousin Nusrat was gravely injured.
A soldier of the Frontier Corps (FC), Sepoy Jehangir Khan, was killed by unidentified assailants in the Mir Hazar Khanzadkhel area of Lakki Marwat District on August 9, reports Dawn. According to Police, Jehangir and his cousin Asmatullah were grazing cattle when two armed motorcyclists wearing masks opened fire on them. Jehangir was killed on the spot and his cousin was injured.
A former personnel of military intelligence, Habibullah Khan (55), was shot dead by a group of militants near a rainwater course in the Ghazikhel area of Lakki Marwat District on August 9, reports Dawn.
Miscellaneous
Security Forces (SFs) on July 18 thwarted an infiltration attempt and arrested five suicide bombers at the Pak-Afghan border in North Waziristan District, reports ARY News. According to security officials, the operation began at 5:00 PM when SFs received intelligence about the group attempting to cross into Pakistan. By 6:25 PM, the terrorists had entered Pakistani territory near Azizkhel and Mandikhel, but SF teams swiftly set up blockades at five locations. The terrorists tried to hide in Besi Khel, but due to the SFs’ rapid encirclement and strategic response, they surrendered without resistance. All five terrorists, aged 15 to 18, are Afghan nationals, with three possessing Afghan identity cards.
Security Forces (SFs) killed four Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists on July 20 during the ongoing joint operation of Police, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), paramilitary forces and the district administration in Malakand District, reports Dawn. Earlier on July 19, at least five terrorist associated with TTP were killed and two others sustained injuries and additionally eight were arrested alive.
Security Forces (SFs) killed four terrorists during an operation in Kalat District of Balochistan in the night of July 19, reports Dawn. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the intelligence-based operation took place on the night of July 19, upon the “reported presence of terrorists belonging to Indian proxy, Fitna al Hindustan”. “During the conduct of [the] operation, [our] own forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, four Indian sponsored terrorists were sent to hell,” the statement read. According to the ISPR, weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the dead terrorists, who were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area.
At least 11 terrorists and two soldiers were killed while seven terrorists were injured during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Sararogha area on June 24, reports Dawn. According to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “On June 24 2025, security Forces conducted an IBO in the general area Sararogha, South Waziristan District, on [the] reported presence of Khwarij belonging to Indian Proxy, Fitna-al-Khwarij.” The statement said that the troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location and “11 Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell, while seven khwarij got injured”. “However, during the intense fire exchange, Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah (age: 37 years, resident of Chakwal District, Punjab), a brave officer who was leading his troops from the front, fought gallantly and paid the ultimate sacrifice along with another brave son of soil Lance Naik Jibran Ullah (age: 27 years, resident of Bannu District),” it added.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and intelligence agencies arrested a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorist during a covert operation from an unspecified area of Rawalpindi city in Punjab on July 25, reports Aaj TV. A number of explosives, hand grenades and detonators were recovered from the terrorist’s possession. According to the CTD spokesperson, the arrested terrorist had completed reconnaissance of sensitive locations and was planning a major attack. The terrorist had gone to Afghanistan several times to receive training in terrorism and was in contact with a key commander of TTP. The terrorist was arrested while he was busy preparing for the operation. According to the CTD spokesperson, the terrorist had made a video of sensitive locations viral on social media a few days ago.
Unidentified terrorists abducted and killed Dr Syed Wali Khan, the former General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) for the Wazir sub-division in Bannu District on July 27, reports Dawn. The terrorists abducted Dr Wali Khan from the Daragai area of Bannu and later took him to his vacant house, where he was shot dead. Three Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed in a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) shootout during a raid in Manghopir area of Karachi on July 27, reports Geo TV. The operation was launched after intelligence suggested that terrorists of the TTP were hiding in a house in the neighbourhood. As the Police surrounded their hideout, the terrorists engaged the raiding officers in an intense exchange of fire, resulting in the deaths of all three.
A wanted terrorist associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Bilal Khosa alias Basheer, was killed in a late-night encounter near Chak Ladan within the jurisdiction of Kala Police Station in Dera Ghazi Khan District on August 3, reports Dawn. The incident occurred when armed terrorists hiding in bushes opened indiscriminate fire on a Police patrol vehicle. Police retaliation resulted in the death of Bilal Khosa. His accomplices managed to flee. Khosa was wanted in several high-profile cases, including attempted murder, robbery, terrorism, and double homicide.
On August 8, at least 33 terrorists associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed while attempting to infiltrate across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Sambaza area of Zhob District of Balochistan, reports Dawn. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a large group of terrorists belonging to the “Indian proxy Fitna al Khwaraj”, were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border when they were detected. The ISPR said that the troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate, adding, “As a result of precise, bold and skillful engagement, thirty three Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell.” A large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered, it added.
Pakistan
Pakistan has ‘dismantled’ terrorist outfits amid US designation of group blamed for Pahalgam attack, says Foreign Office. The Foreign Office (FO) on July 18 said that the country has “effectively and comprehensively dismantled” terrorist outfits The Resistance Front (TRF), reports Dawn. The statement follows the United States (US) State Department’s decision on July 17 to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) — responsible for the Pahalgam attack — as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) and specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) group. The US State Department claimed that the TRF was a “front and proxy” of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiga (LeT). “TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024,” the State Department said in a statement. In a statement, the FO said, “Any linkage with LeT, a defunct organisation banned in Pakistan, belies ground realities. “Pakistan has effectively and comprehensively dismantled concerned outfits, arrested and prosecuted the leadership, and deradicalised its cadres,” it added. “Pakistan condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations; zero tolerance, and international cooperation against terrorism are cornerstones of our policy.” The statement further said that the investigations into the Pahalgam incident were “still inconclusive”. “While the issue under consideration pertains to US domestic laws, India has a track record of exploiting such designations to push anti-Pakistan propaganda with a view to divert international attention from its irresponsible and rogue behaviour, including ongoing human rights atrocities, especially in occupied Kashmir,” it added.
Kabul ‘being receptive’ to concerns over TTP havens, says Foreign Office
The Foreign Office on July 24 said the Afghan Taliban were showing “receptivity” to Pakistan’s concerns over sanctuaries of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakis¬tan (TTP) in Afghanistan, signaling cautious optimism about progress on one of the most sensitive issues straining bilateral ties between the two countries, reports Dawn. “One of the stumbling blocks is the sanctuaries enjoyed by terrorists there. There is an active engagement going on between the two sides, and Afghan side is showing receptivity to our concerns communicated to them in this regard,” Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters at a weekly briefing.
Militant attacks see slight rise in July, says PICSS report
According to the latest monthly security report released by the Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) on August 1, Pakistan witnessed a slight uptick in militant violence in July after a brief decline in June, reports Dawn. In June, there were a total of 78 militant attacks across the country, resulting in at least 100 fatalities, including 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six militants, and two members of peace committees, the PICSS said in a press statement. These attacks injured 189 people, comprising 126 security personnel and 63 civilians — marking an eight per cent decrease in attacks, a 12pc drop in fatalities, and 4pc increase in injuries compared to May 2025. PICSS report documented 82 militant attacks across the country during July, resulting in 101 fatalities and 150 injuries. According to a PICSS statement, those killed in militant attacks included 47 civilians, 36 security personnel, and 18 militants. Among the injured were 90 civilians, 52 security personnel, seven militants, and a member of a peace com.
Terror groups ‘may exploit’ tensions in South Asia, UN report warns
In the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, regional relations “remain fragile” and there is a risk that terrorist groups “may exploit these”, Dawn reported on August 1 quoting United Nation (UN) Analytical Support and Sanctions team report. The assessment came in the thirty-sixth report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which was submitted to the UN Security Council Committee. The report, covering January to June 2025, warned that terrorist groups were increasingly likely to exploit regional tensions between India and Pakistan to expand influence and carry out attacks. After the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, Pakistan and India engaged in a brief but intense conflict in May, trading heavy fire and missiles for several days.
Afghanistan Internal Dynamics
Over 200 former Afghan troops killed since UK data leak, says report
More than 200 former Afghan soldiers and Police officers have reportedly been identified and killed by the Taliban since the leak of personal data belonging to Afghans who worked with British forces, afintl.com reports on July 17. Killings began after a list containing details of approximately 19,000 UK-affiliated Afghans was leaked online in February 2022. While it remains unclear whether all the victims were on the leaked list, the UK government has not released the names of those affected. A special Taliban unit known as “Yarmok 60” was assigned to track down and detain individuals named on the list. The unit has reportedly carried out arrests and executions across several provinces. On July 16, UK Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged the potentially fatal consequences of the 2022 data leak and confirmed that the government could not rule out harm to former Afghan allies. The leak, which the Ministry of Defence attributed to an error by an unnamed employee, has triggered serious concerns over the safety of those left behind.
US House of Representatives passes bill to prevent Taliban from accessing humanitarian aid
On June 23, the US House of Representatives passed a bill titled the No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act, introduced by Congressman Tim Burchett, aimed at preventing the Taliban from benefiting from foreign and humanitarian aid intended for Afghanistan, reports afintl.com. This bill mandates the US Department of State to develop strategies to block Taliban access to international assistance and to report its efforts to Congress. It also called on the State Department to urge other countries to withhold financial aid from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Representative to UN criticizes Russia’s recognition of Taliban
On July 28, Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Afghanistan’s representative to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, condemned Russia’s recent recognition of the Taliban, calling it a “murky and unilateral” move that risks deepening diplomatic isolation and exacerbating the suffering of the Afghan people, reports amu. tv. He also criticized Germany’s decision to accept two Taliban-appointed consular representatives in the cities of Berlin and Bonn, calling both developments “diplomatic setbacks” with long-term consequences for Afghans at home and abroad. “The recognition of the Taliban by Russia, and Germany’s acceptance of Taliban consular officials—potentially in exchange for deportations of Afghan migrants— present serious diplomatic challenges,” Andisha said in a statement. “These steps will harm both Afghanistan’s displaced population and its international standing.
Taliban provides safe haven to terrorist groups, says UN report
A report to the Security Council by the UN’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said the Taliban “continued to maintain a permissive environment for a range of terrorist groups, including Al-Qaida and its affiliates, posing a serious threat to the security of Central Asian and other countries”, amu.tv reports on July 31.The report singled out the Islamic State’s Afghanistan affiliate, ISIL-Khorasan, or ISIS-K, as “the most serious threat, both regionally and internationally.” It estimated the group’s strength at about 2,000 fighters, scattered across northern and northeastern provinces. The report said Al-Qaida remains present in Afghanistan, consisting mainly of Arab fighters who fought alongside the Taliban in the past. Its fighters are spread across six provinces of Ghazni, Helmand, Kandahar, Kunar, Uruzgan and Zabul — and maintain several training sites, “likely to be small and rudimentary,” some of which are shared with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The UN also highlighted Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, also known as the Turkistan Islamic Party, as especially active. The group issued a new charter in March 2025 advocating a “return to Xinjiang for jihad.” Some of its fighters, along with members of Jamaat Ansarullah of Tajikistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and Katiba Imam al-Bukhari, “were used by the de facto authorities in law enforcement and army units for providing domestic security, in particular in north Afghanistan”.
Bangladesh Internal Dynamics
Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi expresses commit- ment to combating terrorism with Bangladesh
On July 23, Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, during a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at Secretariat in Dhaka, stated that his country is working with utmost priority to combat terrorism, warning that any failure in this regard would pose a threat not just to Pakistan, but to the entire world, further expressing commitment to working together with Bangladesh in combating terrorism and drug trafficking, reports thedailystar.net. Naqvi said, “We are working to establish global peace by combating terrorism. If we fail here, it will be a threat to everyone, including Pakistan.” Naqvi further identified narcotics as the second-biggest challenge for his country, with drugs mostly trafficked from Afghanistan. In response, Jahangir stated that narcotics are one of Bangladesh’s major challenges too, with most of drugs entering country from Myanmar. Meeting covered a range of bilateral issues including police training, cybercrime prevention, Rohingya repatriation, enhanced trade, and visa facilitation.
Army launches operation against UPDF in Rangamati District
On June 24, Bangladesh Army launched an operation against United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) in the remote hills of Rangamati District, where the group is primarily active, eports bdnews24. com. The move comes amid longstanding tensions between rival groups, namely Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and UPDF in the region over political dominance and control.
Five UPDF cadres killed in two separate incidents of exchange of fire between PCJSS and UPDF in Khagrachhari District
On July 27, cadre of Democratic Youth Forum, backed by United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), identified as Khuku Chakma, 41, was shot dead in an attack by armed cadres of Santu Larma-led faction of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) in Ugudochari Village of Chengi Union in Panchhari Upazila (Sub-District) of Khagrachhari District, reports bangladeshpost.net. According to a statement signed by UPDF’s ‘office secretary’, Shyamal Chakma, was shot down around 3 pm by PCJSS.
On July 25, four United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF) cadres were killed (identities are not yet revealed) in a reported exchange of gunfire between Santu Larma-led Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and the Prasit-led UPDF in Jora Sindhu Karbaripara area of Dighinala Upazila (Sub-District) in Khagrachhari District, reports thedailystar.net. According to Police, an exchange of gunfire took place around 8:30 PM between an armed group of 40-45 men, led by UPDF ‘commander’ Biplob Chakma, and another group of 35-40 men from PCJSS, led by ‘commander’ Joydeb Chakma. A heavy exchange of gunfire ensued between the two sides. According to preliminary information, four members of UPDF’s armed wing, Gonmukti Fouj, also known as People’s Liberation Army (PLA), were killed in this clash
India Internal Dynamics
‘Urban Naxals’ using foreign funds to keep Gadchiroli away from development, says Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
On July 22, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that “urban Naxals” from outside the state were using foreign funds to spread rumours and keep the people of Gadchiroli away from the path of development, reports etvbharat.com. Addressing a gathering at the Lloyds Metals & Energy Ltd., Konsari, in Gadchiroli District, Fadnavis said, “Naxalism is shrinking in Gadchiroli, and very few Naxalites, who can be counted on fingers, are left in the forests here.” Fadnavis appealed to Naxalites to shun violence and join the mainstream. He, however, cautioned that at a time when the number of gun-wielding Naxalites is shrinking, “urban Naxalism” is on the rise. “We need to be alert about ‘urban Naxals,’ who are spreading false information,” he said. When Gadchiroli started progressing and the foundation of a steel plant was laid here, the very next day a campaign and posts started on social media claiming tribals were being killed and the steel plant was getting constructed on their lands, he said. The campaigns also claimed forests were being cut on a large scale, Fadnavis noted. You will be surprised to know that these people were not from Maharashtra. Two persons were sitting in Kolkata, West Bengal, while two were sitting in Bengaluru, Karnataka, and they had been working on foreign funding. They were using these funds to instigate people against the Constitution through such posts on social media,” he said. “Some people (urban Naxals) like them are trying to create confusion among people by spreading rumours to keep them away from development, the Chief Minister added.
NIA reveals ISIS efforts to mobilise sleeper cells in India, says report
etvbharat.comreported on July 29, that an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has uncovered ongoing efforts by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to mobilise sleeper cells for terror-related activities across India. This revelation has emerged from the interrogation of several recently arrested terror suspects. A senior intelligence official stated that interrogations indicate ISIS is focusing particularly on several locations in Tamil Nadu and Pune. Of particular concern, investigators have found that ISIS is actively trying to radicalise and recruit young people to further its agenda. In response to these findings, the NIA has alerted the police in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, intensifying efforts to monitor and counteract the group’s attempts to expand its reach within the country.
Modi’s refusal to brief parliament on Pakistan conflict prompts walkout
Indian opposition parties walked out of parliament on Wednesday, July 31 evening over Narendra Modi’s decision to sit out a debate on the India-Pakistan conflict, Indian media reported.
Just as Home Minister Amit Shah rose to speak to conclude the debate on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress-led opposition resorted to hooting and sloganeering to protest PM Modi’s absence from the house, the Times of India reported.
Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly said it “was an insult to the upper house that PM Modi, despite being in parliament, refused to come.”
“After 16 hours of discussion, we expected the PM to attend House proceedings. Whatever questions were raised relate to the PM, not that you (Amit Shah) are not capable to respond. Also, the PM not being here is a disrespect to this House,” The Print quoted Mr Kharge as saying.
Opposition lawmakers also resorted to sloganeering as the house witnessed heated exchanges between the opposition leaders and the BJP minister, as the former demanded that PM Modi brief parliament. Shah, however, said it was the government’s discretion to pick its lineup of speakers to present its case in parliament. At this, the opposition staged a walkout.
India rejects UK Parliamentary report alleging transnational repression
On August 2, India firmly rejected a British parliamentary committee report that accused India of engaging in transnational repression against political dissidents residing in the UK, calling the allegations “baseless,” reports India Today.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “These claims stem from unverified and dubious sources, predominantly linked to proscribed entities and individuals with a clear, documented history of anti-India hostility.” The report, titled Transnational Repression in the UK and published by the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, cited claims made by ‘Sikhs for Justice’—a US-based group advocating for a separate Khalistan state. The organization has been banned in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The committee called for stricter measures to counter transnational repression and urged British authorities to support affected diaspora communities.
Two CoBRA jawans injured in IED explosion in Jharkhand
Two Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawans (troopers) of the 209 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) Battalion sustained multiple body injuries in the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion triggered by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in the Saranda Forest area in the West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on August 8, reports The Times of India. The Security Forces (SFs) were reportedly negotiating a rocky terrain at the Hindukuli area of Saranda Forests in Digha village under the Jaraikela Police Station limits when the IED exploded suddenly. The troopers were continuing with their combing operations in the forests to hunt down top Maoist leaders who were reportedly roaming in the area. During the operations, the SFs destroyed three bunkers of the Maoists and seized Naxalite uniforms and kitchen utensils, besides grocery items, from the bunkers.
| Monthly Fatalities The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period July 16, 2025 to August 15, 2025 | ||||
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militant | Total | |
| Jharkhand | 02 | 01 | 01 | 04 |
| Chhattisgarh | 11 | 00 | 07 | 18 |
| Odisha | 01 | 00 | 01 | 02 |
| Manipur | 01 | 01 | 02 | 04 |
| Total | 15 | 02 | 11 | 28 |
International
Drone attacks hit three north Iraq oil fields
Explosive-laden drones hit three oil fields in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region on Wednesday, July 16 Kurdish authorities said, a day after a similar attack halted operations at a facility run by a US company.
Production at two fields operated by the Norwegian group DNO ASA was temporarily suspended, the company said on Wednesday, while an industry coalition to which it belongs reported some of its members were instituting production cuts equivalent to 200,000 barrels a day.
In the past few weeks, Kurdistan has seen a spate of unclaimed drone attacks, which have come as the regional government and the federal authorities in Baghdad wrangle over control of export revenues from the Kurdistan fields. Five oil fields in the region have been hit in the space of a week. Long plagued by conflict, Iraq frequently experiences such attacks, often linked to regional proxy struggles between Iran and the United States and its ally Israel.
The regional natural resources ministry said the latest attacks had caused “significant damage”, and condemned them as acts of “terrorism”. Kurdish authorities blame pro-Iran groups for attacks on oil fields run by US firms.
Singapore military called to counter cyberattack
Units in Singapore’s military have been called in to help combat a cyberattack against critical infrastructure, the country’s defence minister said on Saturday, July 20 — a hack attempt attributed to an espionage group experts have linked to China.
Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said these select units will work with the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) in a united government response to the threat, local media reported. He described the cyberattack as “one example of the emerging threats” that the military has to handle, the reports said. There have been no reported breaches so far.
Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam first disclosed the attack on Friday, describing it as a type of Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) that poses a serious danger to the city-state. An APT refers to a cyberattack in which an intruder establishes and maintains unauthorised access to a target, remaining undetected for a sustained period of time. “I can say that it is serious and it is ongoing. And it has been identified to be UNC3886,” Shanmugam said, referring to the alleged attackers.
Shanmugam, who is also home affairs minister, did not elaborate in his speech on the group’s sponsors or the origin of the attack. But Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant described UNC3886 as a “highly adept China-nexus cyber espionage group”.
Thailand, Cambodia agree truce after five days of war
Thailand and Cambodia’s leaders agreed to an “unconditional” ceasefire on Monday, July 28 after five days of combat along their jungle-clad frontier that has killed at least 36 people.
Nearly 300,000 people have fled as the two sides fired artillery, rockets and guns in a battle over the long-disputed area, which is home to a smattering of ancient temples.
The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia’s French colonial administrators in 1907.
Reading a joint statement from the leaders of both countries after peace talks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said they had agreed “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire” with effect from midnight on Monday.
“This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,” he said at a press conference in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya, flanked by Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Anwar said a meeting of military commanders from both sides would take place on Tuesday morning, before the countries’ cross-border committee would meet in Cambodia on Aug 4.
As the deal was being announced, a journalist in the Cambodian city of Samraong — 17 kilometres from the fraught frontier — reported hearing continuing artillery blasts. But locals expressed relief that a truce had been struck.
Israeli rights groups brand Gaza killings as ‘genocide’
Rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel said on Monday, July 28 that they had concluded the war in Gaza amounts to a “genocide” against Palestinians, a first for Israeli NGOs.
Both organisations are frequent critics of Israeli government policies, but the language in their reports issued on Monday was their most stark yet. “Nothing prepares you for the realisation that you are part of a society committing genocide.
This is a deeply painful moment for us,” B’Tselem executive director Yuli Novak told a news conference unveiling the two reports.
“As Israelis and Palestinians who live here and witness the reality every day, we have a duty to speak the truth as clearly as possible,” she said. “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians.” A spokesman from the Israeli prime minister’s office, David Mencer, denounced the allegation. “We have free speech here in Israel but we strongly reject the accusation,” he said.
All Gazans have been driven from their homes at least once since the start of the conflict, and UN agencies warn that residents face a growing threat of famine and malnutrition.
The International Court of Justice, in an interim ruling in early 2024 in a case lodged by South Africa, found it “plausible” that the Israeli offensive had violated the UN Genocide Convention.
The Israeli government, backed by the United States, fiercely denies the charge and says it is fighting to defeat Hamas and to bring back Israeli prisoners still held in Gaza.
The reports from B’Tselem — one of Israel’s best-known rights groups — and Physicians for Human Rights Israel argue that the war’s objectives go further.
B’Tselem’s report cites statements from senior politicians to illustrate that Israel “is taking coordinated action to intentionally destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip”.
Sudan accuses UAE of bringing in mercenaries
Sudan accused the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Aug 04 of hiring Colombian mercenaries to fight against the government-aligned army on behalf of its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Since April 2023, war between the Suda¬nese army and the RSF has killed tens of thousands of people and created the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises. It has also drawn widespread accusations of foreign involvement — namely Abu Dhabi’s backing of the RSF. “The government of Sudan possesses all the documents and evidence proving the involvement of mercenaries from Colombia and some neighbouring countries, sponsored and funded by the UAE,” the foreign ministry said.
The UAE has repeatedly denied allegations of arming the RSF, despite reports to the contrary from UN experts, diplomats, US politicians and international organisations. Mercenaries have been spotted on both sides, with reports of Colombian fighters first emerging in the western region of Darfur late last year and corroborated by United Nations experts.
This week, the Joint Forces — a coalition of armed groups in Darfur aligned with the army — reported more than 80 Colombian mercenaries fighting on the RSF’s side in the North Darfur state capital El-Fasher.
The coalition said “several Colombian mercenaries involved in drone operations and artillery coordination were killed” in the most recent RSF attempt to seize the city, which it has besieged for over a year.
El-Fasher is the last state capital in Darfur still under control of the army, which on Sunday released video footage it said was of “foreign mercenaries believed to be from Colombia”.
The ministry said that it had previously submitted evidence of the foreign fighters’ involvement to the UN Security Coun¬cil, adding their presence was making the conflict a “cross-border terrorist war waged by proxy”.
A report this year from UN experts monitoring an ongoing arms embargo on Darfur called the accusations of Colombian mercenaries fighting for the RSF credible.
15 shot dead in hunger-stalked Nigerian region
Militants killed 15 farmers and children in a gun attack and mine explosion on August 01 in Nigeria’s northeast Borno state, the epicentre of a campaign led by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The fighters opened fire on a group of farmers and children riding in an open van and a motorised rickshaw outside Gurnowa, a village near the garrison town of Monguno.
“Our men have evacuated 11 bodies to Monguno while another team has left to bring the woman and her three children,” said Babakura Kolo, an anti-ISWAP leader assisting the military in the region.
The 11 were returning to Monguno after working on their farms when they were attacked.
The insurgents made off with the van and the rickshaw of the slain farmers. “The woman and her three children had abandoned their farm after hearing gunshots and were heading back to Monguno when the cart they were pushing rolled over an explosive buried by the terrorists, killing them all,” said the anti-ISWAP leader.
Most of the 11 victims were shot in the head, including two females and two children.
Global leaders warn ‘genocide’ unfolding in Gaza Strip
The Elders group of international stateswomen and statesmen for the first time on Tuesday, Aug 12 called the situation in Gaza an “unfolding genocide”, saying that Israel’s obstruction of aid was causing a “famine”.
“Today we express our shock and outrage at Israel’s deliberate obst¬ruction of the entry of life-saving humanitarian aid into Gaza,” the non-governmental group of public figures, founded by former South Africa president Nelson Mandela in 2007, said in a statement after delegates visited border crossings in Egypt.
What we saw and heard underlines our personal conviction that there is not only an unfolding, human-caused famine in Gaza. There is an unfolding genocide,” it added.
Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand, called on Israel to open the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza so aid could be delivered, after visiting the site.
“Many new mothers are unable to feed themselves or their newborn babies adequately, and the health system is collapsing,” ~ she said.
The Council of Europe urged its member states on Tuesday to halt deliveries of weapons to Israel if they could be used for human rights violations. Michael O’Flaherty, the Council’s commissioner for human rights, said member states should do “their utmost to prevent and address violations of international human rights” in the conflict.
“This includes applying existing legal standards to ensure that arms transfers are not authorised where there is a risk that they may be used to commit human rights violations,” he said, in a statement.
It was also “essential to intensify efforts to provide relief to those affected by the conflict, by supporting efforts to ensure unhindered access for humanitarian assistance and by pressing for the immediate release of hostages”, O’Flaherty said.
| Current Threat Levels : | ||
| City/Region | Threat Level | |
| Islamabad | Level 2 | ** |
| Karachi | Level 2 | ** |
| Lahore | Level 2 | ** |
| Punjab | Level 2 | ** |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Level 3 | *** |
| Peshawar | Level 2 | ** |
| Quetta | Level 2 | ** |
| Upper Balochistan | Level 3 | *** |
| Lower Balochistan | Level 2 | ** |
| Upper/ Rural Singh | Level 2 | ** |
| Gilgit and Northern areas | Level 3 | *** |
| Tribal Areas, Close to Afghan border | Level 3 | *** |
| Index to Threat Level References | |
Threat Level 1 No threat to foreigners although there may be isolated incidents involving petty crime. No security precautions are required. | * |
Threat Level 2 No specific threat to foreigners, however because of the overall general law & order situation, some security precautions are advised, especially if traveling. | ** |
Threat Level 3 Indicates that law and order situation is cause for concern and travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Foreigners should rehearse plans for evacuation. | *** |
Threat Level 4 Indicates complete breakdown of civil administration and law and order leading to possible anarchy. All foreigners to remain indoors and confined to their own city. Families and staff not required to be evacuated retaining only a skeleton staff. | **** |
Threat Level 5 Indicates complete breakdown of law and order, enemy action/hostilities, invasion/ occupation by enemy. | ***** |
