BOMB BLAST
An Afghan security official inspects the site of the blast of a bomb planted on a bicycle and apparently targeting an Afghan National Security Force official in Ghazni, Afghanistan, yesterday. Two persons were injured in the bomb blast.
Torture charge: Pakistan summons Afghan diplomat
Pakistan yesterday summoned Afghan Charge d’Affaires for lodging a formal protest over torturing of a group of Pakistani nationals in Afghanistan, local media reported. Pakistani authorities had closed its border with Afghanistan after they received complaints of alleged Afghan torture of 29 Pakistani labourers in Kabul, official sources said. “The Government of Pakistan takes serious note of the incident,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said. “The Afghan Charge d’Affaires was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this morning and a strong protest was lodged, seeking an investigation into the incident,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.
Gunmen kill 11 people on Pakistan-Iran border
Unknown gunmen killed 11 people as they prepared to illegally leave Pakistan in the southwestern province of Baluchistan, officials said yesterday. The gunmen, riding motorcycles, attacked a convoy on Friday night in Pakistan’s Gwadar district near the border with Iran, some 1,600km southwest of Quetta. Officials described the dead as “illegal immigrants” — believed to be Pakistanis and Afghans who were attempting to leave the country. “Six gunmen riding three motorcycles attacked the illegal immigrants’ convoy in Suntsar Dasht area in Gwadar district. We have received 11 dead bodies of the immigrants,” provincial home secretary Akbar Durrani said.
Spanish PM makes surprise Afghan visit
Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was in Afghanistan yesterday for talks with President Hamid Karzai and for Christmas celebrations with Spanish troops, media reported.
The unannounced visit by Rajoy, accompanied by his defence minister Pedro Morenes, is his first to the country since his right-wing government came to power a year ago.
The number of Spanish soldiers deployed in Afghanistan stands at 521, with the process of withdrawal already under way, the Spanish daily El Pais reported. All Nato combat forces are due to leave the country by the end of 2014.
Christmas shopping gets a boost in Islamabad
Christmas shopping is in full swing in the twin cities of Pakistan, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with most of the city’s shopping centres crowded from evening until late night. During a survey, it was noted that the shopping for Christmas was in full swing. Readymade garments shops and roadside stalls are seen their sales surging over the last week. Bilal, a shopkeeper at Super Market said that he had reduced profits on most garments at his shop. “I don’t celebrate Christmas but I express my respect for the Christ by cutting down on my profits. It’s the most important day of the year for Christians,” he said.