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Baloch Rebels Launch Offensive on Pakistan’s Energy Sector, Hit Mining Projects

Recently, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) set fire to 20 coal trucks in Harnai, Balochistan, reports Rahul Kumar

Baloch armed rebels are systematically targeting Pakistan’s energy sector by attacking coal mined in Balochistan province, where resource nationalism is rife.

Recently, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) set fire to 20 coal trucks in Harnai, Balochistan. These trucks were reportedly ferrying coal to thermal power plants in Punjab. The BLA fighters also attacked the motorcade of the deputy commissioner of Harani.

In a press release, the BLA said: “Freedom fighters of Baloch Liberation Army targeted convoy of Deputy Commissioner and vehicles transporting plundered Baloch national resources in Harnai last night. A suspicious individual was also arrested”.

Highlighting the modus operandi, the BLA statement added: “The main highway was blocked throughout the night and at least 20 vehicles involved in plunder of Baloch natural resources were destroyed”.

Giving insight into the targeted attacks on the coal mining operations, Qazi Rehan, Spokesperson of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), told India Narrative that Coal from Chamalang mines in Balochistan is transported to various cities in Punjab for industrial purposes and generation of electricity.

“This activity has been a source of constant conflict between the Baloch nation and Punjab since the seventies. In the past some Baloch sardars wanted to assert their authority for these resources and collaborate with people in Punjab for industrial development but the Baloch fighters have been resisting this through continuous attacks”, Rehan said.

He added that the resistance to the exploitation of mineral wealth has affected Pakistan’s economy in the past and will continue to affect the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has at least six coal-fired power plants out of a total of 21 power plants.

Coal trucks in Balochistan were attacked at the beginning of this month also. On June 1, 42 coal trucks from Harnai and Duki coal fields were held up at gunpoint on the Harnai road. At that time the Baloch fighters opened fire and punctured the tyres and damaged the trucks.

The frequent attacks on the coal trucks has rattled the Pakistan Coal Suppliers Association and Good Transport Association. It has asked Islamabad to provide proper security to the truck drivers and the coal supplying firms.

Dawn reports that the associations have claimed that they are “paying Rs 230 per tonne to the Frontier Corps [the Pakistani paramilitary forces guarding Balochistan] for providing security to the trucks transporting coal to other cities” and have threatened to stop coal supply.

Baloch resource nationalism was also evident on Wednesday, after a  blast took place at an ammunition store related to the Saindak mining project in Balochistan, injuring three soldiers and a watchman.

The Saindak management issued a press release saying that a sudden explosion occurred in an ammunition store of the Wah Noble Company in a hilly area five km away from the Sendak project and township.

The statement added that the explosion in the ammunition store might have been caused by an electrical short circuit or due to heat from the sun.

Pakistan has given the Saindak gold and copper mines to Chinese company Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC), a subsidiary of the China Metallurgical Group Corporation. Saindak mines are located in the Chagai district near the Afghan-Iran border.

Incidentally, the spate of attacks are also driving fissures among the various ethnic communities in a highly radicalised Pakistan as some social media tweets have said that Pashtun businessmen and Pashtun laborers are being targeted through the attacks on coal trucks.

Some of the Twitter users have blamed the Pakistani security forces for usurping Pashtun resources by allowing attacks on the trucks.

ALSO READ: Baloch labourers losing lives due to lack of facilities in mines

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Crime India News

Sharp fall in terrorist attacks from 2018 to 2021: Centre

The minister also said that 244 terrorist incidents happened in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020 while the number decreased to 229 in 2021…reports Asian Lite News

There has been a substantial decline in terrorist attacks in the country from 2018 to 2021, the parliament was told on Tuesday.

Replying no to DMK leader A. Ganeshamurthi’s question whether the incidents of terror attacks are rising in the country, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told the Lok Sabha, in a written reply, that “situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir and that there has been a substantial decline in terrorist attacks from 417 in 2018 to 229 in 2021”.

Noting that combating terrorism is a continuous process, he said that the government has taken various steps in this regard including strengthening of the legal framework, streamlining of intelligence mechanism, setting up of National Investigation Agency (NIA) for investigation and prosecution of terror-related cases, having various hubs of National Security Guard (NSG), stepping up the border and coastal security, and modernisation and capacity building of state police forces.

“Due to concerted and coordinated efforts of all the stakeholders, terrorism-related violence has been contained to a large extent in the country,” he said.

The minister also said that 244 terrorist incidents happened in Jammu and Kashmir in 2020 while the number decreased to 229 in 2021.

Rai said the government has a policy of “zero tolerance against terrorism and the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir”.

Asked when the situation in Jammu and Kashmir would be brought to normal so that democratic process can be started, Rai said the Central government has taken various measures to normalise the situation in the Kashmir Valley.

“These include a robust security and intelligence grid, proactive operations against terrorists, intensified night patrolling and checking at Nakas, security arrangements through appropriate deployment and high level of alertness maintained by the security forces,” he said.

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After comments against Prophet, Al-Qaeda warns of attacks

However, the chilling threat issued by AQIS has alerted the security agencies in the country…reports Asian Lite News

Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has issued a chilling warning of carrying out ‘suicide bombings’ in Delhi, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat in a bid to take avenge of the insult to the Prophet Mohammed.

“The saffron terrorists should now await their end in Delhi, Bombay, UP and Gujarat. They should find refuge neither in their homes nor in their fortified army cantonments,” a threat letter by the AQIS read.

It said that the “hearts of Muslims all over the world are bleeding” and are filled with feelings of revenge and retribution.

Former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma had allegedly made controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammed following which she was suspended by the party.

The controversial statement made by Nupur Sharma set off an international furore. Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have officially protested their statements and demanded an apology.

However, the chilling threat issued by AQIS has alerted the security agencies in the country.

The letter also mentioned Ghazwa-e-Hind — the battle for India — in which they said victory of Muslims in the country.

“At the same time, we bring tidings of death and destruction to the rulers of India, of executions and hangings, of imprisonment and being bound with chains,” read the letter.

Meanwhile, suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was provided security by the Delhi Police in the wake of death threats she has received over her controversial remarks.

She had lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police on May 27 alleging that she has been receiving death threats and target hatred against her.

Based on this complaint, an FIR was registered under sections 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 507 (Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code at the Special Cell police station against unidentified people.

However, during the probe, Sharma, yet again lodged a complaint against certain persons regarding promoting enmity.

“After examining the said complaint, section 153 (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the IPC was added in this case,” Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa said.

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