Since 2004 Khyber News is providing information, education and entertainment to the Pashto speaking population both sides of Pak-Afghan border, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and elsewhere in the world.
Those were the times when Afghanistan was theater of US led war on terror and cities of Peshawar valley were specifically while rest of Pakistan was generally affected of its spillover in the form of terrorism.
Most of the terrorist organizations e.g. Al-Qaeda, Taliban and Haqani network were defeated and on the run which later took refuge in the lawless regions between Pak-Afghan borders to regroup for guerilla warfare against coalition forces in Afghanistan and its core ally in region Pakistan.
Entertainment industry was the 1st casualty of this war as cinemas and theaters were deserted after most of the artists, actors, singers and technicians were fleeing in the face of threats from militants.
Hardcore militants considered music, movies and dramas as un-Islamic besides sports festivals, extracurricular activities in educational institutes and music in marriage parties as against the culture thus society was suffocating.
During those murky times underground production of vulgar CD dramas and films were flourishing due to the vacuum as people have less opportunities for healthy entertainment.
AVT network and Khyber news provided healthy entertainment and accurate information in a challenging circumstances and created awareness besides enlightenment and moderation of deeply radicalized populace of society to prevent them of falling prey to the religious extremism.
Physically whipping out terrorists from certain areas through military operations were not enough as extremist ideologies shall have been defeated as well and fear of terrorism shall have been razed from the hearts and minds.
For that purpose a strong counter narrative through an understandable medium of communication was need of the hour.
Religious fanatics kept trying to motivating highly susceptible segments of society, through their falsified propaganda and the state kept compromising unless the carnage of APS in Peshawar on 16 December 2014.
After that incident our civil-military establishment has apparently realized that terrorism and extremism is the real monster which needs to be eradicated at any cast.
For a long time AVT network and Khyber news has been providing a strong platform and providing counter narrative not just explaining the real and modern face of Islam and culture but also trying to inculcate the spirit of hope.
Now as 20th anniversary of 9/11 is approaching and US led coalition forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan so the subsequent effects on Pakistan shall be a worrisome factor for those in the helm of affairs.
With looming civil war in Afghanistan and the consequential mass exodus of local population toward neighboring countries, in these crises times Pakistan need to be more vigilant and need robust border management beside active leadership.
Though it might have negative effect for Pakistan both in border areas and city centers but crises situation also offers some opportunities if there is vigilant leadership.
Afghans, no matter how impartial they claim, shall end up seeing Pakistan benefitting from their miseries and are seldom grateful but same time they see Pakistan as a safe haven in the times of crises.
A generation of Afghans have studied in Pakistan’s universities then worked here for decades, besides they have integrated in this society with friends and as mentioned earlier families here.
What shall Pakistan do:
Pakistan shall act robustly in making certain laws, e.g. granting citizenship or permanent resident status for the refugees:
- Who can invest a certain amount of money in Pakistan.
- Discourage the use of Hundi/Hawala etc and make it easy for them to create a bank account.
- Those who could build businesses and create jobs.
- A robust media campaign alleviating negative image of Pakistan based on facts that the great games in the region is the reason for their misery.
Due to the developments mentioned above terrorism is on the rise and during July 2021 at least 15 major incidents of terrorism with a total of 35 causalities and 24 injuries have been reported across the country.
In those incidents of terrorism at least 15 civilians including 9 Chinese citizens and 19 personnel’s of security forces have been killed while 9 terrorists have also been executed in different encounters with police and military personnel’s.
Khyber news have covered all those incidents promptly in news and then followed up with expert opinions and comments in different programs.
Those programs include Cross Talk telecasted on Monday 10 pm live from Peshawar station and hosted by Sayed Wiqas Ali Shah.
Those issues are discussed with more focus in program Maraka live and recorded on Khyber Tuesday and Wednesday 10 pm hosted by renowned journalist Hasan Khan.
Similarly program Dateline Peshawar with Aqeel Yousafzi, Shahrah-e-Dastoor with Rasheed Safi and Connect-Afpak again with Wiqas Ali Shah are viable platforms to discuss those issues.
Details of Terrorist incidents in KP during July 2021
July – 1
Six people were injured in an explosion in front of Askari Park in Quetta, more than three kilogrammes of explosives were used in the blast according to officials. The blast occurred close to a moving Frontier Corps vehicle. Witnesses said the explosion damaged several nearby buildings.
July – 2
Three children were killed in toy bomb explosion in Tank District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police said the minor victims aged six, seven and twelve years were brothers. They found the toy bomb in a drain and brought it to their home where it went off.
July – 3
Four Security Forces personnel sustained injuries after a remote-controlled bomb exploded near their vehicle in Girah Galdad area of Kulachi tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan. According to Police, the patrol vehicle was targeted with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by the roadside. Same day suspected TTP militants Imran Gandapur, identified as Haji Akbar and Ajab Khan aka Usman, were killed during an operation conducted by the Police in Dera Ismail Khan.
July – 4
A retired Police officer and his son were killed while two others sustained injuries when unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire in Shahi Bazaar of Khairpur city in Sindh.
July – 5
Five militants were killed in the exchange of fire with CTD personnel in Hazarganji area of Quetta. Arms and explosive material were recovered from militant hideout.
July – 11
At least three Policemen were injured when their Police van was attacked with an IED) in Ghoriwala town in Bannu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Police vehicle got damaged in the blast.
July – 13
Three militants, an officer and a soldier of Pak Army were killed during an operation in Zewa area in Kurram District. According to ISPR, during an operation in exchange of fire Captain Basit (25), resident of Haripur, and Sepoy Hazrat Bilal (22), resident of Orakzai were killed.
July – 14
A vehicle laden with explosives rammed a convoy of Chinese workers headed to the Dasu Hydropower Plant project site at Dasu in Kohistan kill at least 13 persons, including nine Chinese, one Pakistani national and two Frontier Corps. Two buses carrying workers from the China Gezhouba Group Co, a construction company based in Wuhan, China, were badly damaged in the explosion.
July – 15
A captain and a soldier of Pakistan army were killed in IED attack in Khuda Bux Bazar area Pasni town in Gwadar District of Balochistan. Captain Affan Masood and Sepoy Babar Zaman embraced Shahadat
July – 17
A Police van was partially damaged when an IED planted along a road went off in Takwara area of Kulachi tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan. All Police personnel, including Deputy Superintendent of Police and Station House Officer Kulachi, who were onboard the van, remained unhurt.
July – 18
One soldier was killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) by Security Forces (SFs) in the Senai Narai area of South Waziristan. According to ISPR, the operation was conducted, on reported presence of terrorists and during intense exchange of fire with terrorists, Sepoy Junaid, age 20 years, resident of Balakot, District Mansehra embraced shahadat,” the statement said.
July – 19
Unidentified assailants shot dead a CTD official, identified as Safdar, near the motorway under the limits of the Chamkani Police station in Peshawar.
July – 30
A Policeman was killed and two passerbies were injured in a hand grenade attack in Karkhano Market of Peshawar. Police initially said that an unidentified assailant had hurled a grenade at the Police mobile during an operation against Covid-19 SOP violations. Peshawar CCPO Abbas Ahsan, who visited the site, later clarified that the mobile was on a routine patrol when it was targeted. There were four Police personnel seated in the mobile at the time of the attack. The deceased Police official was identified as Police team in-charge Ibn Amin.
July – 30
One soldier was killed and seven others got injuries when an IED exploded near a vehicle in the Osse Pass area of Ladha sub-division in South Waziristan.
July – 31
One soldier was killed and two others injured when an improvised IED went off when Security Forces were carrying out a search operation near the Afghan border in the Shawal area of North Waziristan.
