Combined Effort of Pathfinder Group Task Force
Suicide Bombings
A suicide attack outside the judicial complex housing the Islamabad district and sessions courts on Tuesday, November 11 killed 12 people and injured at least 36, including four women and four policemen. It was the first such attack in the capital in nearly three years.
The blast occurred as Islamabad was hosting several international events, including the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference and the 6th Margalla Dialogue, while a tri-nation cricket series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe is underway, with a match in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
Officials said the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. Police said a lone bomber blew himself up at the main entrance to the complex, located in the G-11 sector, after failing in repeated attempts to enter the premises, where hundreds of litigants and lawyers were present.
The suicide bomber who carried out the attack has been identified as an Afghan national, ARY News reported on November 13. A facilitator linked to the attack has been arrested who belonged to the Bajaur District. Police said that five suspects have been detained from various areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as part of the investigation.
Bombing/IEDs
On October 24, a local leader of Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam–Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Sakhi Wazir, narrowly escaped an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast inside a mosque at Azam Warsak Bazaar in Birmal Tehsil (revenue unit) in Lower South Waziristan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn.
The explosion occurred around 10 a.m. when Maulana Wazir entered his room in the mosque, sustaining minor injuries. The blast, which partially damaged the structure, was triggered by a remote-controlled IED planted overnight, confirmed District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Tahir Shah.
At least 13 people, including two Police personnel, were injured in a hand grenade attack on a Police mobile van near Shah Petrol Pump in Dera Murad Jamali town of Nasirabad District in Balochistan on October 29, reports The Express Tribune.
Unidentified armed men attacked the Jaffar Express in Dera Murad Jamali town of Nasirabad District in Balochistan, firing multiple shots and launching four rockets at the passenger train, reports The Express Tribune. However, Security Forces swiftly retaliated, foiling the assault and forcing the attackers to flee.
Targetted Killings
Hafiz Maulana Abdul Salam Arif, head of Madrassa Abu Bakar Siddique and a member of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JuI) provincial Shura (council), was shot dead in Mandani Police Station area of Charsadda District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on November 4, reports Dawn. According to Investigating Officer (IO) Safdar Khan, the Maulana Abdul was on his way home after offering prayers at a mosque when he was attacked by two armed suspects on a motorcycle.
A former member of local peace committee, Haji Azam Khan, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Mirgam Bala area of Maidan valley in Lower Dir District on the night of November 3, reports Dawn. Haji Azam Khan was gunned down at his house in Mirgam Bala area where he was sitting when unidentified assailants opened fire from the rooftop, leaving him critically injured.
He was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. On November 1, a former member of village defence committee, Almas Khan, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Gumbat Banda area of Malakand District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn. He was on way to Kumbar Bazaar in his vehicle when attackers opened fire on him near Kas Gumbat Banda, killing him on the spot.
A Police head constable, Shah Nawaz, was killed when unidentified assailants opened fire at him in Mohammad Akbar village in the jurisdiction of Gul Imam Police Station in Tank District on November 9, reports Dawn. Head constable Shah Nawaz was on leave and at home when assailants opened fire.
Miscellaneous
On October 24, at least eight ‘Indian-sponsored’ Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tank District under operation “Azm e Istehkam”, reports Dawn. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “troops effectively engaged terrorist locations, and after an intense fire exchange, eight Indian sponsored khwarij were sent to hell”.
Additionally, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists. On October 25, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that Security Forces (SFs) killed three terrorists belonging to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred as Fitna al-Khawarij, and destroyed a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Jhallar area of North Waziristan District, reports Dawn. At least 15 terrorists — including four suicide bombers — were killed as Security Forces (SFs) foiled infiltration attempts from Afghanistan in the Spinwam area of North Waziristan District on October 25, reports Dawn. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the SFs effectively engaged the infiltrators, preventing their entry. A large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the slain militants.
At least 10 terrorists and five soldiers were killed during an exchange as the Security Forces (SFs) foiled an infiltration bid from Afghanistan in the Ghaki area of Kurram District on October 25, reports Dawn. Five terrorists were killed by Security Forces (SFs) during a targeted operation in the Badan area of War Mamund tehsil (revenue unit) in Bajaur District on October 24, reports Dawn. The operation, conducted on intelligence reports about the presence of militants in the Badan area who were using a mosque built for refugees as a hideout.
Four terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire with Security Forces (SFs) in the rugged mountains of Hangu District on the evening of October 24, reports Dawn. The operation was launched after an improvised explosive device (IED) attack that martyred Superintendent of Police (SP) [Operations] Asad Zubair Asad Zubair and two guards in Ghulmina check post under Bliamina in Hangu District.
Security Forces (SFs) killed 14 terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Chiltan Mountains area of Quetta District on October 28, reports The Express Tribune. “During the operation, our troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense exchange of fire, 14 Indian-sponsored terrorists were neutralised and sent to hell,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Security Forces (SFs) on October 29 killed four terrorists, including ‘second-in-command’ of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Amjad Mazahim, during an exchange of fire when the terrorists trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Bajaur District Pakhtunkhwa, reports ARY News.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), SFs detected the movement of a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The troops swiftly engaged the infiltrators, killing four, including the terrorist’s leader, a high-value target, ‘second-in-command’ Amjad Mazahim.
At least 12 terrorists were killed by Security Forces (SFs) during an intelligence based operation (IBO) in Dara Adam Khel District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on November 9, reports Geo TV. Eight terrorists were killed by Security Forces (SFs) during an intelligence based operation (IBO) in Shawal area of North Waziristan District Pakhtunkhwa on November 9, reports Geo TV.
Two militants were killed in an encounter with the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in the Kanda Pul area of Mardan District on the night of November 13, reports Dawn. The incident occurred when the CTD’s SWAT team was conducting a “targeted operation” in the Kanda Pul area and tried to stop two men on a motorcycle, a statement by the CTD said. The suspects opened fire on the officers, who “narrowly escaped” harm, prompting the team to return fire, killing both militants.
At least 22 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed while several terrorists sustained injuries during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) by Security Forces (SFs) in Gadar village of Bajaur District on November 13, reports Dawn.
“The operation was carried out based on highly classified information”, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said. Providing further details of the operation, the statement said that “last night, they received confirmed information about the presence of a large number of Khawarij in Gadar village of Bajaur.
“As soon as the information was received, the forces carried out an extremely
effective and targeted operation, during which 22 terrorists were killed.”
Three terrorists were killed in retaliatory firing of Police when a group of terrorists attacked a Police patrolling in Bazid Khel village in Darra Adam Khel tehsil (revenue unit) of Kohat District on the night of November 13, reports Dawn.
The terrorists were identified as Muhammad Qasim, Shahid and Sahir alias Pata, all belonging to the Saad alias Shah Gul group. Weapons were recovered from them. At least 12 Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed during intelligence-based operations (IBO) in Bannu District on November 17, reports Dawn. At least 11 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed during intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Bajaur District on November 17, reports Dawn.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said terrorist ‘commander’ Sajjad alias Abuzar was also killed in the Bajaur IBO. Five Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed during intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Datta Khel area on November 17, reports Dawn. At least two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists were killed during intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Spinwam and Zakir Khel areas of Bajaur District on November 18, reports Dawn.
One Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist was killed during intelligence-based operations (IBO) in Bajaur District on November 18, reports Dawn. One Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist was killed during intelligence-based operations (IBO) in Dera Ismail Khan District on November 18, reports Dawn.
Pakistan
Federal Government approves ban on TLP under anti-terrorism act
The Federal Government on October 23 approved a ban on the religio-political party Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) following violent protests, reports Dawn. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Federal Cabinet that deliberated on a recommendation by the Punjab Government to ban the party. A press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after the meeting said the ban was “unanimously” approved by the Federal Cabinet. It added that the Federal Interior Ministry presented the summary to the Federal Cabinet on the Punjab Government’s request and a briefing was provided on the “violent and terrorist activities of TLP in the country”.
“The meeting was informed that this organisation, established since 2016, has incited violence across the country. Due to the organisation, incidents of violence have occurred in different parts of the country,” it added. It pointed out that the TLP was banned in 2021 as well, which was lifted after 6 months on the condition that unrest and violent activities would not be carried out by the party in the future, adding that a reason for the current ban on the organisation was also the reneging on the guarantees given in 2021.
“In the past, security personnel and innocent bystanders have been killed in violent protests and rallies by the TLP. The federal cabinet, after a briefing given to the meeting and the recommendation of the Punjab government, unanimously concluded that the TLP is involved in terrorism and violent acts,” the press release concluded.
The Federal Ministry of Interior placed the names of 290 leaders, financiers and hardcore activists of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) to prevent them from travelling abroad, Dawn reported on October 28. Those on the list include TLP chief Saad Rizvi, his brother Anas Rizvi, and 21 other senior office-bearers, who are wanted in multiple cases registered in Lahore, Sheikhupura and other Districts.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issues stern warning to Taliban regime after Pak-Afghan talks collapse in Istanbul
The Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on October 29 issued a stern warning to the Afghan Taliban regime after days of talks in Istanbul between Pakistani and Afghan delegations ended without a breakthrough, reports Geo TV. In a post on X, the Defence Minister said that Pakistan had engaged in talks at the request of brotherly countries in an effort to give peace a chance, but “venomous statements” by certain Afghan officials clearly reflect the devious and splintered mind-set of the Taliban regime.
“We have borne your treachery and mockery for too long, but no more. Any terrorist attack or any suicide bombing inside Pakistan shall give you the bitter taste of such misadventures. Be assured and test our resolve and capabilities, if you wish so, at your own peril and doom,” the Defence Minister posted on X.
Khawaja Asif further added: “Let me assure them that Pakistan does not require to employ even a fraction of its full arsenal to completely obliterate the Taliban regime and push them back to the caves for hiding. If they wish so, the repeat of the scenes of their rout at Tora Bora with their tails between the legs would surely be a spectacle to watch for the people of the region.”
TLP leadership cadre from central Punjab, Lahore severs ties with banned party
Ticket holders and office bearers of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) from central Punjab and Lahore on November 4 announced that they were severing ties with the now-banned organisation, stating that they were “standing with the state”, reports Dawn. In a press conference at the Lahore Press Club today, multiple TLP ticket holders and office bearers announced their decision to step away from the religio-political group, with lawyer Usman Khizr Mangat saying that one can engage in politics within the state, but not against it.
“Violence and mobs cannot create an impact by attacking the state,” he said.
“Pakistan saw how these people carried out attacks.
The government tried to start a dialogue, but the demands laid out were not accepted. On October 31, all election ticket holders of the TLP from south Punjab announced that they had left the party, accusing it of pursuing an anti-state agenda that “aligns with the country’s enemies”.
Afghan-based terrorist groups’ access to illicit arms threatens regional peace, Pakistan warns at UNSC debate
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, while addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on November 10 warned that the acquisition of abandoned weapons by terrorist groups based in Afghanistan not only threatens peace and security in Pakistan but also in the region, reports Dawn. In his remarks, Ambassador Iftikhar said, “Pakistan is seriously concerned about the presence of stockpiles of sophisticated arms and ammunition in Afghanistan, as noted in the findings of the secretary general’s reports.” The envoy said Pakistan had “credible information of attempts to smuggle these arms to neighbouring countries for terrorist activities”. “Weapons confiscated at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border are traced back to stockpiles of weapons left behind by foreign forces in Afghanistan and illegal weapons being sold across black markets in Afghanistan,” Ambassador Iftikhar added. “The movement of unmarked or unregistered weapons across the international border sustain and aid non-state armed groups, terrorist networks, and criminal gangs, undermining regional security and stability,” he added further.
All 5 militants behind military college attack in Wana killed
Security forces killed all five militants, including a suicide bomber, after an attack on a military-run college in northwestern Pakistan, a security official said on Wednesday, Nov 12. The security operation has concluded, and authorities are now clearing the college building to eliminate any potential threat from planted improvised explosive devices, the official told Anadolu on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
On Nov 10 the Cadet College in Wana in South Waziristan district near the Afghan border came under attack when militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the main gate of the college. Two militants, including a suicide bomber, were killed at the main gate while three others entered inside the educational facility. Security forces rescued more than 600 individuals, including students, teachers and civilian staff, who were inside the facility and later carried out an operation against the militants who were cornered in the college’s administrative block, the official said.
Afghanistan Internal Dynamics
Afghan Taliban admit presence of TTP, other terror groups in Afghanistan, says Pakistan
Pakistan on October 31 said that the Afghan Taliban regime has admitted the presence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist organisations on Afghan soil during the recent round of talks between the two countries, reports Geo TV. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, during his press briefing on October 31, said Afghan officials presented various justifications for not taking action against these groups, adding that the presence of terrorist elements across the border reinforced Pakistan’s security concerns.
The spokesperson said that given the sensitivity of the dialogue, “minute-by-minute commentary” was not possible, as the Foreign Office reserves the right to exercise caution in such matters. He said all relevant institutions participated in the Istanbul talks, where detailed discussions were held on key issues. “These are complex and sensitive negotiations that require patience and composure,” he remarked, noting that comprehensive details would emerge in the next round scheduled for November 6, with positive progress continuing.
Suicide bomber killed near Buzkashi field in Kunduz Province
On November 7, a suspected suicide bomber was killed near a traditional buzkashi field in Kunduz City, according to Taliban, reports Amu TV. Jumauddin Khaksar, Spokesman for Taliban Police Command in Kunduz, said the blast occurred at around 7:30 a.m. local time in Shahrak-e Sar Darrah area of Police District 8. He said the attacker detonated explosives prematurely and died at the scene. No other casualties were reported. An investigation is underway, and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attempted attack.
Bangladesh Internal Dynamics
‘Less than a year later, terrorism and extortion have started again,’ says IAB leader Muhammad Faizul Karim
On October 23, Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, senior Deputy Chief of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), stated that less than a year later, terrorism and extortion started again, reports prothomalo.com. Karim said, “One person’s name is A, one’s name is B, one’s name is C. They are all thieves. So what will *they do if they come to power? Of course, their work will be theft. Our biggest problem is that the leaders have changed, but the policies and ideology have not changed…We protest, we struggle, but why doesn’t change come? Because there is no real change within us. Even if we give our lives, if our character doesn’t change, our fate won’t change either.
Less than a year later, terrorism and extortion have started again. So what has changed? We stumble and fail again, but we don’t learn…We were at the forefront of the anti-discrimination movement of 1924. The people of this country fought to eliminate discrimination with their lives and blood. But what did we see? Today, less than a year later, there is no crime including murder, rape, extortion, terrorism, looting, and occupation that has not happened in Bangladesh. What is the reason for this? The people of this country have changed parties, changed leaders, but they have not been able to change peace.”
Local BNP leader shot in Brahmanbaria District
On October 24, a local Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, Mofizur Rahman Mukul (52), was shot and critically injured by unidentified assailants in front of his house in Adalatpara area of Nabinagar Upazila (Sub-District), Brahmanbaria District, reports The Daily Star.
Mukul, former Joint Gen Secy of Nabinagar Upazila BNP and ex-Convener of Jubo Dal, was attacked around 8:00 pm while returning home after attending a party meeting. Mukul sustained two bullet wounds and was later referred to Dhaka in critical condition. Following the incident, BNP activists staged a protest demanding arrest of the culprits. Police recovered three bullet casings and launched an investigation.
Bangladesh and Pakistan agree to enhance direct connectivity through shipping links and air services at JEC meeting held in Dhaka
On October 27, Bangladesh and Pakistan agreed to expand economic cooperation by exploring new trade opportunities and enhancing direct connectivity through shipping links and air services at the ninth meeting of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) held in Dhaka, reports thedailystar.net. Salehuddin Ahmed, adviser to the finance and science ministries, led the Bangladesh delegation, while Pakistan’s delegation was headed by Ali Pervaiz Malik, minister for energy (petroleum division). It was the first JEC meeting since 2005.
The meeting focused on expanding bilateral trade and investment and identifying potential across various sectors. Both sides expressed interest in enhancing connectivity by establishing direct shipping links, expanding air services, and increasing the use of ports and logistics to reduce costs and improve efficiency in bilateral and regional trade. To strengthen connectivity, both sides agreed to pursue direct air services and establish a Joint Working Group on Maritime Cooperation between the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation. Pakistan also proposed that Bangladesh use Karachi Port Trust for trade with China and other regional countries.
Multiple cocktail explosions reported across Dhaka
On November 10, seven cocktail explosions occurred in two places in Mohammadpur, Mirpur and Dhanmondi in Dhaka, reports Prothom Alo. People wearing helmets on motorcycles threw cocktails everywhere. No one was injured in these incidents. Around 7 am, two bombs were detonated on the road in front of and within the boundaries of the food products establishment of Fisheries and Livestock Advisor Farida Akhtar and poet and thinker Farhad Mazhar in Mohammadpur.
A cocktail explosion occurred in front of the Grameen Bank head office in Mirpur at around 3:45 am. Two cocktail explosions occurred in front of Midas Center at Dhanmondi No. 27 and two in front of Ibn Sina Hospital on 9/A Road. The explosions occurred between 6:45 am and 7 am this morning, police said. No one was injured in these incidents. In both places, people wearing helmets arrived on motorcycles and threw cocktails.
Three police officers injured in crude bomb explosion in Gopalganj District
On November 17, three police officers, identified as Irene Nahar, 31, Nazrul Islam, 52, and Arif Hossain, 33 were injured in a crude bomb blast at Kotalipara Police Station in Gopalganj District, reports thedailystar.net. Officer-in-Charge of Kotalipara Police Station, Khandakar Hafizur Rahman, stated that around 10:00 pm, miscreants hurled one crude bomb at the police station, and around the same time, two more were thrown at the upazila parishad premises.
Former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, given death sentence by ICT-1
On November 17, in its first judgment on crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising, International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death, reports The Daily Star. Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal was also sentenced to death, while former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified as an approver, was given five years in prison. Mamun, the first accused to become a state witness in an ICT trial, remains in custody and has pleaded guilty.
Originally, five charges were framed against Hasina, Kamal and Mamun, but after reviewing documents and depositions, the tribunal reshaped and modified them. Hasina was found guilty on three counts under Charge 1, incitement, ordering the killings, and failure to prevent the atrocities or take punitive action. For these, she received imprisonment until natural death. Under Charge 2, the first count concerned her orders to deploy drones, helicopters and lethal weapons to kill protesters, which the tribunal deemed crimes against humanity.
The second concerned the killing of six persons at Chankharpul and another six at Ashulia in execution of her earlier orders. On these counts, the tribunal imposed a single sentence of death. The tribunal also found Kamal and Mamun liable on four counts of crimes against humanity linked to the Chankharpul and Ashulia killings. They were found guilty of abetment, failure to prevent the atrocities, and failure to take punitive measures.
India Internal Dynamics
Maoists call for Bharat Bandh on October 24
The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) party’s ‘Central Committee (CC)’ issued a letter and has called for a Bharat Bandh (general shutdown strike) on October 24, reports Andhra Jyothy. The Maoist party has called for a bandh demanding that the central government stop Operation Kagar, which is aimed at eliminating Maoists. Due to this, alert officials have declared a high alert on the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border.
Officials suspect that the Maoists are seeking revenge on Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu Dada alias Bhupati, and Takkallapalli Vasudeva Rao alias Rupesh alias Satish alias Aashanna. Officials are conducting combing operations in view of the possibility of Maoists carrying out lightning attacks to this extent. In the wake of the bandh announcement, Police checks are being conducted in the Eturunagaram, Vajedu, Venkatapuram, and Mangapet Mandals (administrative subdivisions) of Telangana.
Four cadres of different proscribed outfits arrested in separate incidents in Manipur
On October 25, Security Forces (SFs) arrested two active cadres of the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak–Progressive (PREPAK-Pro), and recovered one Grenade hand 36M HE and two mobile phones from two different locations in Thoubal District of Manipur, reported Manipur Police on X. The arrested cadres were identified as Rajkumar Navy Meitei (32) of Wangjing Hodamba, arrested from Wangjing Bazar, and Thongam Ronaldo Singh (27) of Lilong Arapti, Imphal East District, arrested from Lilong Bazar. They were allegedly involved in extortion activities in and around the Wangjing area.
On October 25, Security Forces (SFs) arrested an active cadre of the Kangleipak Communist Party–Taibang Nganba (KCP-TN), identified as Huyam Rameshwor Singh alias Yaima alias Tayai (67), a resident of Lalambung Takhellambam Leikai in Imphal West District, from the vicinity of JNIMS, Porompat Ayangpalli Road under Porompat Police Station limits in Imphal East District of Manipur, reports Manipur Police on X. A mobile phone was recovered from his possession.
On October 25, Security Forces (SFs) arrested an active cadre of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), identified as Hemarjit Leishangthem alias Lalu (31), from his residence at Singjamei Leishangthem Leikai under Singjamei Police Station limits in Imphal West District of Manipur, reports ManipurPolice on X. During the operation, SFs recovered one mobile handset, one Aadhaar card, and one Airtel Air fiber device from his possession.
NIA conducts capacity building training for State Police as terror outfits use VPNs for recruitment
On October 29, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched extensive capacity-building programmes for State Police forces to counter the growing use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by terrorist organisations for recruitment and operational planning, reports ETV Bharat. The NIA has so far conducted 40 such training sessions and intensified coordination with the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).
Officials said VPNs and encrypted platforms are increasingly used by extremists to conceal identities and spread radical content. NIA’s Anti-Cyber Terrorism Division (ACTD) employs DRDO-developed tools and platforms like Network Traffic Analysis (NETRA) to monitor encrypted applications and track online terror networks.
Arms and ammunition recovered in Manipur
On November 4, Manipur Police recovered five nos. of 7.62 mm self-loading rifle (SLR) Rifles, six AK-56 rifles, five MA4 MK II Rifles with Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), four SLR Magazines, eleven AK-56 Magazines, two M4A1 Magazines, one Country-made AK Magazine, 99 SLR rounds, 151 AK-56 rounds, six Lathode and eight Lathode Grenades from Churachandpur District of Manipur, reports Manipur Police on X.
13 people died in an explosion in front of Red Fort in Delhi
On November 10, 13 people were killed in a blast that occurred in front of the Red Fort on Netaji Subhash Marg in Chandni Chowk District of Delhi, reports The Hindu. Government sources told that the occupant of the car in which the explosion happened, belonged to Dr. Umar, a resident of Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.
Additionally, Delhi Police registered an FIR under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act-UAPA and Explosives Act in connection with the explosion. Sources said investigation agencies are closely monitoring social media activity following the blast and have begun extensive technical analysis of communication records, adds The Times of India. Data from all mobile phones that were active in the vicinity of the Red Fort complex at the time of the explosion is being examined. Till the time of reporting, no terror group made any claim.
| Monthly Fatalities: The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period October 22, 2025 to November 20, 2025: | ||||
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militants | Total | |
| Arunachal P | 00 | 00 | 02 | 02 |
| Assam | 00 | 00 | 02 | 02 |
| Delhi | 10 | 01 | 01 | 12 |
| Chhattisgarh | 00 | 00 | 09 | 09 |
| Manipur | 00 | 01 | 04 | 05 |
| Total | 10 | 02 | 18 | 30 |
International
Five Red Cross volunteers killed, three go missing in Sudan
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on Tuesday, October 29 it was “horrified” after five Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers were killed while on duty in Bara, North Kordofan state. Three other volunteers are missing following Monday’s attack, the IFRC said. The RSF claimed Saturday to have regained control of Bara, a strategic city on a key crossroads to the Darfur region. United Nations agencies have voiced alarm about the reported level of violence in the city. The Sudanese Red Crescent unit was on an official mission in Bara as part of a food distribution team, the IFRC said in a statement.
They were clearly identified by wearing Red Crescent vests, which are supposed to provide them with full protection, and carried identification cards issued by the local branch. “Any attack on humanitarian teams is unacceptable.” The IFRC said the Sudanese Red Crescent has lost 21 colleagues on duty since the conflict broke out in April 2023.
After an 18-month siege marked by starvation and bombardment, the city is now under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — descendants of the Janjaweed militias accused of genocide two decades ago. The paramilitary group, locked in a brutal war with the army since April 2023, launched a final assault on the city in recent days, seizing the army’s last positions.
Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan confirmed the withdrawal on Monday, calling it a tactical redeployment to “a safer location” but vowing to “fight until this land is purified”. The army-aligned foreign ministry said the crimes were “shamelessly documented by the perpetrators themselves”.
Rio police raids kill over 132, corpses line street
The deadliest police operation in Brazil’s history killed at least 132 people, public defenders said on Wednesday, October 29 as Rio de Janeiro residents lined a street with dozens of corpses found overnight, a week ahead of global climate events in the city. State police said the raids targeting a major drug gang the day before the global climate events in the city had been planned exhaustively for more than two months, designed to drive suspects into a hillside where a special operations unit was waiting in ambush.
“The elevated lethality of the operation was expected but not desired,” Victor Santos, head of security for Rio state, told a news conference. Rio police officials confirmed 119 deaths so far, including four police officers.
Santos said there was no connection to global events Rio will host next week related to the United Nations COP30 climate summit, including the C40 global summit of mayors tackling climate change and British Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. The city’s most deadly police raid before Tuesday was a 2021 raid that left 28 people dead in the Jacarezinho neighborhood.
In 1992, 111 were killed when Sao Paulo police stormed the Carandiru Penitentiary to put down a prison rebellion. Residents of the Penha neighborhood in Rio gathered dozens of corpses from the surrounding forest overnight and lined up more than 70 of the bodies in the middle of a main street.
“I just want to take my son out of here and bury him,” said Taua Brito, a mother of one of those killed, surrounded by weeping mourners and onlookers on either side of the long row of bodies, some of which were covered with sheets or bags.
UN chief Antonio Guterres is “greatly concerned” by the number of casualties from a massive Brazilian police raid on Rio drug gangs, which left scores dead, his spokesman said.
Erdogan to Merz: does Germany not see Israeli ‘genocie in Gaza?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised Germany over what he said was its ignorance of Israel’s “genocide” and attacks in Gaza, at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, October 30. The open public friction between Nato allies emerged on Merz’s first visit to Turkiye since taking office. Merz said his government had stood by Israel since the Oct 7, 2023 raid by Hamas and that he believes Israel was exercising its right to self-defence.
Erdogan, among the most vocal critics of Israel’s assault on Gaza and a key player in the ceasefire talks, said he could not agree with Merz. “Hamas does not have bombs (or) nuclear arms but Israel has all of these and uses these weapons to hit Gaza, for example with those bombs again last night ,” Erdogan said.
“Do you, as Germany, not see these? Do you, as Germany, not follow these? Besides hitting Gaza, (Israel) has always sought to suppress it through famine and genocide,” he said. A UN inquiry determined that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, arguing that its killings, siege and destruction were carried out with the intent to destroy Palestinian life in the enclave. Multiple Israeli and international rights groups reached the same conclusion.
Merz has criticised Israeli actions in Gaza and this year Germany suspended military exports there, citing the deteriorating humanitarian situation. He has stopped short of backing accusations of genocide, however, arguing that criticism of Israel must not become a pretext for antisemitism.
Erdogan said he still believed Germany and Turkiye could collaborate to end famine. He also pointed to the potential for Nato allies to focus on joint projects in the defence industry, and reiterated Ankara’s wish to join the European Union.
Experts say Europe does not have enough troops to fight Russia
Europe could struggle to mobilise enough troops or quickly produce enough weapons in case of a direct confrontation with Russia, a new report warned on Tuesday, November 04. The French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), a top think tank, highlighted Europe’s weaknesses in the event of a high-intensity conflict with Russia, which the authors describe as “a long-term threat”.
Europe needs to demonstrate political will and “a coherent defence economic strategy” to prepare for a possible confrontation with Russia over the next five years, said the report titled “Europe-Russia: Balance of Power Review”. Thomas Gomart, the IFRI director, said it was important to “identify our strengths and weaknesses”, pointing to Europe’s “critical military gaps”.
“European countries have the necessary potential, that is the economic resources, military capabilities and technological know-how to stand up to Russia by 2030, provided — and this is obviously the most important word — that they demonstrate political will,” he said.
European countries have upped military spending in a bid to contain Russia since Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb 2022. Last month, Fabien Mandon, France’s chief of the defence staff, said the country must be ready in the next three or four years for a clash with Russia, which “may be tempted to continue the war on our continent”. Although Europe enjoys an advantage over Russia in aerospace and at sea, its land forces suffer from “critical shortfalls in depth and ammunition stockpiles”, the report said.
Attack on funeral in Sudan claims 40 lives
An attack on a funeral in the key city of El-Obeid in Sudan’s central Kordofan region killed 40 people, the UN said on Wednesday, November 05 as paramilitaries looked poised to launch an offensive. The United Nations’ humanitarian office did not specify when the attack took place or who was behind it, but said that the situation in the Kordofan region was continuing to worsen.
The war in Sudan, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions more, has spread to new areas in recent days, sparking fears of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the military since 2023, was preparing to launch an assault in Kordofan after capturing El-Fasher, the last army stronghold in the vast western Darfur region.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said more than 300 survivors of sexual violence had sought care from its teams in Tawila after a previous RSF assault on the nearby Zamzam camp, which displaced more than 380,000 people last spring.
The fall of El-Fasher gave paramilitaries control over all five state capitals in Darfur, raising fears that Sudan would effectively be partitioned along an east-west axis. The RSF now dominates Darfur and parts of the south, while the army holds the north, east, and central regions along the Nile and Red Sea.
The UAE is accused by the UN of supplying arms to the RSF — allegations it has repeatedly denied. Meanwhile, the Sudanese army has received support from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran, according to observers.
Gunmen kidnap 25 schoolgirls in Nigeria
Gunmen from a criminal gang kidnapped 25 people and killed a staff member in an early morning raid on a north-western Nigerian girls’ secondary school on Monday, November 17.
The attack comes more than a decade after 276 girls were abducted from Chibok, in the restive northeastern Borno state, and sparked international outcry that rallied people around the “#BringBackOurGirls” global social media campaign. Since then, there has been a string of other abductions involving schoolchildren across northern parts of Nigeria.
Police said on Monday said the gang armed with “sophisticated weapons, shooting sporadically, stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School” in Kebbi state at 4am.
Police were deployed, but “unfortunately, the suspected bandits had already scaled through the fence of the school and abducted twenty-five students from their hostel to unknown destination”, police said in a statement.The school deputy head was shot dead while a security guard was injured during the attack.
The military, police tactical units and local vigilantes have “been deployed in the area and they are currently combing the bandits’ routes and nearby forest” in a bid to rescue the abducted students and arrest the gangs, police 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. | ***** |
