Pakistani security personnel guard a checkpoint in Quetta, Balochistan, after a blast in Mastung district that killed dozens of people. EPA
Pakistani security personnel guard a checkpoint in Quetta, Balochistan, after a blast in Mastung district that killed dozens of people. EPA
Pakistani security personnel guard a checkpoint in Quetta, Balochistan, after a blast in Mastung district that killed dozens of people. EPA
Pakistani security personnel guard a checkpoint in Quetta, Balochistan, after a blast in Mastung district that killed dozens of people. EPA

Pakistan security forces suffer highest casualty rate in eight years, report reveals


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A total of 386 personnel from Pakistan's security forces lost their lives in the first nine months of this year, the highest number of deaths in eight years, a report by the Pakistani think tank Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has found.

The report said security personnel accounted for 36 per cent of the 1,087 deaths resulting from violence in the nine-month period. They include 137 members of the Pakistan Army and 208 police officers.

The years 2015 and 2016 were previously considered to be the deadliest for Pakistan's security personnel, with 339 and 293 deaths respectively.

The report said Pakistan was grappling with “proxy terrorism” that was primarily affecting the regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. In 2019, the two provinces accounted for 72 per cent of deaths due to violence. However, this figure has surged to nearly 92 per cent for the first nine months of 2023.

As many as 60 people lost their lives in a suicide bombing at an event commemorating the birth anniversary of the Prophet Mohammed in Balochistan's Mastung district on Friday.

On the same day, five people were killed and more than 10 were wounded in another attack by two suicide bombers at a police station mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district. Although no group has claimed responsibility for the bombings, security officials suspect the involvement of ISIS, which has launched similar attacks in the past.

This escalation in violence in Pakistan can be attributed to two primary factors: the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in Kabul in the year 2021 and the collapse of a ceasefire agreement between the government and the banned Tahrik-e-Taliban (TTP) last November.

Before the collapse of talks between the Pakistani government and the proscribed group last year, thousands of TTP members had already moved from their sanctuaries in Afghanistan into Pakistan, a development considered to be one of the reasons behind the increasing rate of militant attacks in the country.

The TTP on Sunday claimed responsibility for an attack on a police post in Punjab that killed one officer and injured three others.

The attack occurred in the Easa Khel area of Mianwali district, close to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a spokesman for the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department said.

Liaqat Ali said a group of 10 to 12 militants attacked the Kundal police post after midnight. A subsequent exchange of gunfire continued for hours, in which two of the attackers were killed and a third was wounded but escaped with the others, he said.

Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, who visited Balochistan's main city of Quetta on September 30 after the Mastung attack, said terrorism was being sponsored by external state actors and there would be no let-up in operations against terrorists.

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Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

UK-EU trade at a glance

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Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Saturday's results

West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley

Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm 

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

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Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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MATCH INFO

CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures

Tuesday:

Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)

Second legs:

October 23

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

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SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities

Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

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The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback

Price, base: Dh315,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm

Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm

Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km

Breast cancer in men: the facts

1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.

2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash. 

3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible. 

4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key. 

5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor

 

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Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)

TV: Abu Dhabi Sports

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Biography

Her family: She has four sons, aged 29, 27, 25 and 24 and is a grandmother-of-nine

Favourite book: Flashes of Thought by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid

Favourite drink: Water

Her hobbies: Reading and volunteer work

Favourite music: Classical music

Her motto: I don't wait, I initiate

 

 

 

 

 

Updated: October 02, 2023, 1:21 PM`