“Pakistan continues to support peace talks, while maintaining ties with the Afghan Taliban,” US Department of State Office of the Inspector General noted in its latest quarterly report on Afghanistan.

“According to the DIA, Pakistan’s strategic security objectives in Afghanistan almost certainly continue to be countering Indian influence and mitigating spillover into the Pakistani territory,” the report said.

The report for the quarter April 1 to June 30 said the Pakistani government is concerned that a civil war in Afghanistan would have destabilising effects on Pakistan, including an influx of refugees and providing a potential safe haven for anti-Pakistan militants, A report by The Tribune said adding that during the quarter, financial contributions to the Afghan Taliban increased in the Pakistan border regions, according to media reports, citing eyewitness sources. Solicitation efforts traditionally targeted mosques, but Afghan Taliban militants now openly visit the bazaar areas in nearby Pakistani towns, it said.

“The militants typically solicit contributions of USD 50 or more from shopkeepers. Local residents told reporters that solicitation efforts were now commonplace in the towns and cities of Quetta, Kuchlak Bypass, Pashtun Abad, Ishaq Abad and Farooqia,” the report said.

According to the report, the DIA, citing media reports, said that Iran welcomes the withdrawal of US and coalition forces from Afghanistan but “almost certainly” remains concerned about the resulting instability in Afghanistan.

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The post High Alert in Punjab as Tiffin Bomb, Hand Grenades recovered from Amritsar’s village appeared first on Ubiq TV | English News Channel.

Chandigarh: Ahead of Independence Day, police have recovered a tiffin bomb box containing over 2 kg of RDX explosive at Daleke village of Amritsar on Sunday evening.
The tiffin bomb was suspected to be dropped by a drone flying in from Pakistan, Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said while addressing a press conference here on Monday.
He said that some other explosives including five hand grenades were also found in the bag containing the tiffin bomb and investigation is underway to ascertain the source of supply.
“On Sunday night, drones were heard in an Amritsar village and then district police received an input that a bag was found abandoned in suspicious circumstances. Upon opening it, the police found explosives including seven pouches, five hand grenades and 100 rounds of 9mm pistol in it. An explosive substance weighing 2 kg along with a remote controller also seized from the spot,” DGP said.
He said that an NSG team was called at the spot and preliminary investigation reveals that a sophisticated bomb has about 2-3 kg of RDX explosive, which can provide a timed explosion.
“There was also a printed circuit board that can help in remote signal and three detonators have been found along with a power energiser of 9 volts. It was assembled very meticulously and carefully by experts. It could have been used against any target,” the DGP said, adding that police did not know where it was to be targeted.
He said that activities have been increased across the border for the past two to three months and security has been beefed up on Indo-Pak borders in the state.
“This is a very sinister and worrisome development. We want to be aware the general public of this development as this IED was fitted in a children’s tiffin box. It looked attractive having a sticker of a scooter. It was targeted at innocent people like children,” he said requesting people to do not open or touch any abandoned box/bag.
DGP said that issue had been taken up before Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh so that the government could make people aware.

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MUMBAI (Reuters) – Pakistan did all they could to get their World Twenty20 match against India moved to Kolkata, even threatening to withdraw, but poor selection and the hosts’ all-round superiority left them wishing they had not bothered to turn up at all.

The most anticipated match of the tournament between the neighbours was shifted to Eden Gardens at the last moment over security concerns at the original venue at Dharamsala.

Pakistan repeatedly emphasised India’s morale-sapping loss in the opener against New Zealand was an advantage for them and they were even more confident of breaking their jinx of losing every World Cup match between the bitter rivals.

Their decision to play four fast bowlers against India reflected an approach more suited to the 1980s West Indies side and dropping spinner Imad Wasim at the expense of a paceman underlined their failure to read the surface.

Asked to bat in the rain-shortened Group Two match, the 2009 champions were largely subdued once off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin got the new ball to turn viciously.

Doubts seemed to creep into Pakistan’s minds regarding what would be a decent target to set India, who folded for 79 against the Kiwis on a turning track while chasing 127 in their opener, and the innings never gained momentum until the death overs.

MEAGRE TOTAL

“There are few areas we need to improve, specially our batting,” said Shoaib Malik, who top-scored with a 26 for Pakistan. “Even though it was a tough pitch to bat on, I believe we could have set a higher target.”

In the end, Pakistan could only manage a meagre 118 for five in their 18 overs, nowhere near enough without the bowling depth New Zealand could draw upon in Nagpur when their spinners picked up nine of 10 wickets to stun India.

India did suffer a minor wobble though, slumping to 23-3 after Mohammad Sami dismissed Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina in consecutive deliveries in the fifth over to silence the 60,000 crowd at Eden Gardens as well as the millions watching on TV.

However, India’s batting mainstay Virat Kohli hit a prudent 55 not out to calm the nerves and showed why he is considered one of the world’s best.

The right-hander, who averages almost 85 in T20s against Pakistan, was aided by the fact that he did not have to face too many deliveries from Mohammad Amir, whose opening spell of 1-3 ran shivers down India’s spines.

The left-arm paceman was not brought back on by Shahid Afridi until India were nearing victory and the leg-spinning skipper, who lacks the guile to turn the ball effectively, was unable to stem the flow of runs himself.

As the pressure lifted, India were easily able to maintain their utter dominance of Pakistan in World Cup events, adding a fifth World Twenty20 victory to the six triumphs in the 50-over format.

 (Editing by John O’Brien)

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