(Combined effort of PATHFINDER GROUP Task Force)
Suicide Bombing
More than 30 militants were killed in a powerful explosion inside a mosque in the remote Hilki area near the Afghan border in Charmang tehsil (revenue unit) of Bajaur District on August 21, reports The News. Officials said the militants, who had converted the mosque into a base for planning terrorist activities in the District, were storing a large quantity of explosives inside. The cache detonated unexpectedly, killing all those present. According to initial reports, the group was preparing for a major terror attack when their explosives went off. The blast reduced the mosque hideout into rubble. No civilian casualties were reported in the explosion. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) quoting media sources reported that an explosion in a mosque had resulted in multiple casualties while the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed a projectile hit the building.
At least 13 people were killed and 35 others injured in a suicide bombing near Shahwani Stadium in the Sariab area in Quetta on Tuesday, Sept 02 night, shortly after the conclusion of a public meeting of the Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) held to mark the death anniversary of the late Sardar Attaullah Mengal. BNP President and MNA Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who presided over the gathering, remained unhurt as the blast occurred when he was leaving for home. Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Asghar Khan Achakzai of the Awami National Party (ANP), and former senator Mir Kabeer Muhammad Shai of the National Party were also present, but escaped unhurt. However, former BNP MPA Mir Ahmed Nawaz Baloch and the party’s central labour secretary Musa Jan were among those injured along with several party workers and supporters.
Bombing/IEDs
On August 23, two young brothers, Javed and Khalid, were injured when the children mistook an explosive device for a toy and brought it home, where it later exploded inside a house near Syed Jalal check-post in Miranshah Distrct reports The Express Tribune. Hospital sources later confirmed that the children were out of danger after receiving treatment.
Three persons were injured in a grenade attack in the Hazarganji area of Quetta on August 31, reports Dawn. Police said unidentified motorcyclists hurled a hand grenade at an office of a private company in the Hazarganji area and sped away. While it exploded outside of the office, at least three employees of the company sustained injuries and some property was damaged. No one has claimed responsibility.
Targetted Killings
A young university student and local cricket team captain was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bam Khail village of Swabi District on the night of August 22, reports The Express Tribune. The victim, Muhammad Imam Hussain, was a BS English student at the University of Swabi and captain of his village cricket team. According to Police, he was returning home after offering Isha prayers when gunmen opened fire near Madina Colony, close to Masjid Allahu Akbar.
A Policeman, identified as Waheed Ahmed, guarding a polio vaccination team, was gunned down on May 27 by unidentified assailants in Killi Muhammad Hassni area of Nushki District in Balochistan, reports Dawn. While confirming the incident, Nushki Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amjad Hussain Soomro said that Police have set up checkpoints at various places to search for the attackers.
Miscellaneous
Two terrorists of Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (Bali Khiyara group) were killed in an exchange of fire with the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel and the Police in Prowa tehsil (revenue unit) of Dera Ismail Khan District on August 20, reports Dawn. The exchange of fire triggered when the personnel raided a hideout of terrorists during an intelligence-based operation near Sikandar Road in Bharki area. The terrorists were identified as Rashid of Chajri and Rafiuddin of Lar Mahra. A cache of weapons and explosives was seized from their possession, including a Kalashnikov with magazines, 55 rounds, two hand grenades, a rocket launcher, four rocket shells and boosters.
Two terrorists affiliated with Jamaatul Ansar al-Mahdi Khurasan, an offshoot of the banned outfit Hafiz Gul Bahadur were arrested group during a targeted operation in the Jani Khel area in Bannu District on August 23, reports The Express Tribune.
Three Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel were killed while 16 other personnel sustained injuries when Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists attacked an FC check post in the Torawarai area of Hangu District on August 23, reports Aaj TV. Security Forces (SFs) killed five terrorists, including a facilitator, in the retaliatory action. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Hangu, Mohammed Khalid Khan, terrorists launched a heavy-weapons assault on the FC check post in the jurisdiction of Doaba Police Station early Saturday morning. The DPO said the attackers managed to carry away the bodies of their slain accomplices under the cover of night.
The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) killed three Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) cadres during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tang Krier area of Barkhan District on May 26, reports Dawn. A CTD spokesman said the operation was planned after intelligence reports about the movement of BLA cadres in the area. As Security Forces cordoned off the area, the cadres opened fire. The SF personnel returned fire, resulting in a gun battle that continued for over an hour, in which three BLA cadres were killed. A cache of arms and ammunition, including submachine guns, pistols and IEDs were recovered.
A Police constable was killed in a gunfight with terrorists in the Havaid area of Bannu District on the night of August 26, reports Dawn. A Police official said that around 30 terrorists carried out a late night attack on the house of constable Rafidullah in the Havaid area. He said at the time of attack, Rafidullah was present at home and he refused to surrender. “The police constable fought bravely and saved all his family members from harm by laying down his own life,” he added. The official said that the exchange of fire continued for quite some time before the terrorists fled.
On August 29, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Hyderabad arrested three Sindhu Desh Revolutionary Army (SRA) terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Jamshoro District, reports Dawn. CTD stated that the terrorists were found to possess a hand grenade, explosive material, detonators, ball bearings, nuts and bolts, a remote control, a battery, and prohibited weapons, including an 8 mm rifle and bullets, which were confiscated following the operation. The arrested terrorists confessed to carrying out multiple attacks, including planting bombs on railway tracks and targeting law enforcement personnel, while admitting to working under the direct instructions of SRA’s central leadership. It added that one of the arrested terrorists revealed during interrogation that he and his group had been assigned 14 tasks, including targeted killings of police officials and bomb blasts in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Kotri, and other areas.
Three terrorists and one Policeman were killed while two other Policemen sustained injuries in a firing incident in Darmalak mountain areas of Lachi tehsil (revenue unit) in Kohat District on August 30, reports Dawn. An operation is underway to arrest the injured terrorists, the RPO added.
The Police foiled a terrorist attack on the Miryan Police Station in Bannu District in the night of August 29, reports Dawn. A police official in Bannu said that around 70 terrorists led by their ‘commanders’ Qari Niaz, Safeer and Rasool Ghani launched the late night attack with light and heavy weapons. Terrorists wanted to take control of the Police Station. An intense exchange of fire occurred for some time before terrorists fled. All Policemen remained safe.
An explosion at a girls’ primary school in the Wanda Zahid Gul area of Lakki Mar partially damaged the building on the night of August 30, reports Dawn. Lakki Marwat District Police Officer (DPO) Nazeer Khan said that “the incident took place late night when an explosion occurred at a girl’s primary school in the Wanda Zahid Gul area, situated within the jurisdiction of Daddiwala Police Station.” He said that due to the explosion, carried out through an improvised explosive device (IED), the school’s building was partially damaged. “Luckily, no casualties were reported,” the DPO said.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on August 31 arrested five terrorists having link with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Sub-continent (AQIS) in separate incidents in Karachi, reports Dawn. The CTD and Federal Intelligence Agency, acting on a tip-off, conducted joint operations in the Manghopir area and on Kashmir Road near the KMC Sports Complex and apprehended five terrorists believed to be affiliated with TTP and AQIS, the statement read, quoting a CTD spokesperson. “Two arrested suspects belong to the TTP, while three others belong to AQIS,” the statement read. “Illegal weapons were seized from their possession. They (weapons) have been sent to the police’s forensic science lab to ascertain whether they have been used in any criminal activity.” The CTD added that the terrorists received training from a neighbouring country and were planning to carry out acts of terrorism in Karachi.
At least seven people were killed in a suspected sectarian attack when unidentified assailants attacked a passenger vehicle near Ahmad Khan Kalle area of Kurram District on September 3, reports The Express Tribune. The attackers opened fire on the passenger vehicle and fled the scene. Kohat Regional Police Officer Abbas Majeed Marwat said in a statement “a search operation has been launched after the terrorist incident,” adding that 12 suspects were detained in the operation and a large number of weapons were recovered from them.
Pakistan
Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2025 gets Senate approval
The Senate (Upper House of Parliament) on August 19 approved the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by majority vote, turning down amendments put forward by Jamiat Ulema Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) senator Kamran Murtaza amid strong opposition protests, reports The News. Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry moved the bill further to amend the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997 [The Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2025] in the House, which has already been approved by the National Assembly. JUI-F senator Murtaza moved certain amendments in the bill, but the House rejected them with a majority of votes. The house passed the bill through clause-by-clause reading. The statement of objects and reasons of the bill says that the current security situation requires a robust response that goes beyond the existing legal framework. The amendments aim to empower the Government, armed forces, and civil armed forces with the necessary authority to detain individuals who pose a significant threat to national security. This provision would allow for the preventive detention of suspects based on credible information or reasonable suspicion, thereby disrupting terrorist plots before they can be executed. This will also provide Law Enforcement Agencies with the legal backing to conduct more effective operations against terrorism.
Pakistan urges Afghanistan to take concrete measures against TTP and BLA
The Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar highlighted a recent surge in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan perpetrated by groups operating from Afghan soil, urging the Afghan authorities to take concrete and verifiable measures against entities such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) / Majeed Brigade, reports The Khorasan Diary. Dar met with Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, on the sidelines of the 6th Trilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan in Kabul. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan said in a statement that both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, welcoming the recent upgrade of diplomatic representation from Chargé d’Affaires to Ambassadorial level, as agreed during the trilateral meeting in Beijing on May 21, 2025.
Militant attacks surge to decade-high in August, says PICSS report
Pakistan witnessed an alarming spike in militant violence in August, registering a 74 per cent increase in militant attacks compared to July, becoming the “deadliest month in over a decade”, according to data released by the Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) on September 1, reports Dawn. In July, PICSS documented 82 militant attacks across the country, resulting in 101 fatalities and 150 injuries, a 5pc rise in militant attacks compared to June. According to the think tank, those killed in July’s militant attacks included 47 civilians, 36 security personnel, and 18 militants. Among the injured were 90 civilians, 52 security personnel, seven militants, and a member of a peace committee. “With 143 militant attacks recorded, August became the deadliest month in over a decade, surpassing all monthly figures since February 2014”, as per the PICSS militancy database. The wave of violence left 194 people dead, including 73 security forces personnel, 62 civilians, 58 militants, and one pro-government peace committee member, according to PICSS. Additionally, 231 others were injured, comprising 129 security personnel, 92 civilians, eight militants, and two peace committee members. Militants also abducted at least 10 individuals during the month. “In response, security forces escalated their operations, killing at least 100 militants and arresting 31 others across the country. However, these actions also led to the deaths of three civilians and one security personnel,” according to PICSS. The report highlighted that the most alarming escalation occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in the tribal Districts, which saw 51 militant attacks — a 200pc increase. These attacks resulted in 74 deaths, marking a 124pc rise. Balochistan followed with 28 attacks, resulting in 52 deaths — 23 security personnel, 21 civilians, and eight militants. Another 45 people were wounded, including 23 security personnel and 22 civilians. Sindh reported six attacks, leaving eight people dead — six civilians and two security personnel. Security forces arrested 11 suspected militants, all in Karachi. In Punjab, two attacks occurred: a banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) assault in Dera Ghazi Khan, and an unsolved killing of a young cleric in Rawalpindi, resulting in the deaths of one civilian and one attacker. In Gilgit-Baltistan, TTP-linked militants struck Chilas district, killing two security personnel and injuring one. Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorism since the TTP ended its ceasefire deal with the government in November 2022, vowing to increase attacks.
Pakistan seeks joint action against Afghanistan-based terror groups
Pakistan on Friday, Sept 05 emphasised the seriousness of the threat posed to regional peace and stability by Afghanistan-based terrorist groups, calling it a common challenge that required collaborative efforts.
“Groups like Fitna Al-Khwarij represent a common threat to the peace and stability of our region, necessitating collective action to counter their malign influence,” Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said at a weekly media briefing. The government uses the term to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group.
The spokesman was responding to questions about reported Pakistani strikes across the border and comments by Taliban acting Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, who accused Pakistan of blaming Afghanistan for its own security shortcomings.
Pakistan has long maintained that it faces a persistent threat from militant groups operating out of Afghanistan, including the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Multiple United Nations Security Council reports have noted the presence of sanctuaries for these groups in Afghanistan, which Islamabad says enable cross-border attacks.
The FO spokesman said security forces and law enforcement agencies conduct “targeted operations in border regions to safeguard our citizens from terrorist threats. These operations are meticulously planned based on credible and actionable intelligence and executed with precision,” he said, adding that Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and remains committed to dialogue and cooperation.
Interior minister forms body to probe SIMs data leak
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has taken immediate notice of the news regarding leakage of mobile phone SIMs data and formed a special team to investigate the matter within two weeks. “Following the interior minister’s directives, the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency has constituted a special investigation team to probe into the matter and submit its report within 14 days,” says an official press release issued by the Interior Ministry here on Sunday, Sept 07. It said the team will thoroughly examine the circumstances and those involved in the data leakage will be identified and brought to justice through legal action.
Media reports say that data of all SIM holders, including Interior Minister Naqvi, was sold at Google. They further said that information regarding mobile location was being sold for Rs500, mobile data record for Rs2,000 and details of foreign trips for Rs5,000.
A couple of months ago, the National Cyber Emergency Response Team of Pakistan (PKCERT) issued an advisory warning that the login credentials and passwords of more than 180 million internet users in Pakistan have been stolen in a global data breach, urging people to take immediate protective measures. Media reports said PKCERT had identified the global breach involving a publicly accessible, unencrypted file containing more than 184 million unique account credentials.
“The breach exposed user names, passwords, emails and associated URLs tied to major social media services, as well as government portals, banking institutions, and healthcare platforms worldwide,” the reports said quoting the PKCERT’s advisory. The leaked database is believed to have been compiled using infostealer malware — malicious software that extracts sensitive information from compromised systems,” it added. “This data was stored in plain text and left completely unprotected, without encryption or password safeguarding.”
PKCERT is a federal government entity responsible for protecting Pakistan’s digital assets, sensitive information, and critical infrastructure from cyberattacks, cyberterrorism, and cyber espionage.
The advisory also recommended that people change their passwords annually and use a credible online service to find out about potential breaches.
Afghanistan – Internal Dynamics
ISKP poses major threat with 2,000 fighters in Afghanistan, states UN
The Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) continues to pose the most serious terrorist threat from Afghanistan and the wider Central Asian region, according to a United Nations report warning of the group’s resilience and regional ambitions, Amu TV reports on August 21. The UN Secretary-General’s office said ISKP maintains about 2,000 fighters in Afghanistan, where it continues to recruit not only locally but also from Central Asian states, Russia’s North Caucasus, and disaffected members of other militant groups. The group, under the leadership of Sanaullah Ghafari (also known as Shahab al-Muhajir), has prioritized attacks on Shia communities, Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, and foreigners, the report said. While Taliban operations have diminished some of ISKP’s capabilities, the UN noted that the group “continued to operate with relative impunity.”
Iran envoy says terrorist are being transferred from Syria to Afghanistan
On August 21, Iran’s envoy to the United Nations (UN) said that some terrorist elements are being relocated from Syria to Afghanistan, posing a direct threat to the country’s neighbours and to regional stability, reports Amu TV. “Daesh, al-Qaida, and foreign terrorist fighters continue to destabilize Syria and the wider region,” Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told a UN Security Council meeting on terrorism. “We are seriously and deeply alarmed by credible reports indicating the relocation of certain terrorist elements and foreign terrorist fighters from Syria to Afghanistan, which pose a direct threat to Afghanistan’s neighbors and regional stability.”He urged UN member states to fully comply with international law in combating terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations.”
AFF kills two Taliban fighters in Kunduz Province
Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) announced on ‘X’ that on August 29, 2025, its fighters launched an attack on a Taliban militia base located in the Police District (PD) 2 in Kunduz killing two Taliban terrorists and injuring two others.
Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada outlaws poetry under new law
On August 30, Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has approved a law banning poets from criticising his decrees or writing love poetry, reports Afghanistan International. The Ministry of Justice said that the new legislation, published in the official gazette, sets out 13 articles regulating poetry gatherings. The law prohibits any criticism of Akhundzada’s orders and decisions and bars verses praising “boys and girls” or encouraging friendship between them. It also demands poetry be free of “worldly love, improper desires and inappropriate emotions.” The Ministry of Information and Culture will enforce the law, with oversight committees to be established in Kabul and provincial centres.
Bangladesh – Internal Dynamics
Foreign Ministry urges India to close Awami League offices in India
On August 20, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry urged India to immediately close any party office of Awami League in India and ensure that no Bangladeshi engages in any anti-Bangladesh activity there, reports thedailystar.net. In a statement by Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, it was stated that any form of political activity or campaign by Bangladeshis against the interests of Bangladesh is a clear affront against the people of Bangladesh and the State. Statement said, “This may also trigger public sentiment in Bangladesh which may in turn impact the ongoing efforts of the two countries in further enhancing the relationship.”
Pakistan should deal with 1971 issue to advance Bangladesh-Pakistan relations, states NCP
On August 23, Leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP) stressed that Pakistan should deal with 1971 issue to advance Bangladesh-Pakistan relations in a meeting with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, reports prothomalo.com. A seven-member NCP delegation met with the visiting Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka. NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain said, “We have tried to present to them the perception of the people of Bangladesh about Pakistan. The NCP believes that there is an opportunity to improve from the hostile relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the past. In that case, we have to take the perception of the people into consideration in the most sensitive way. We believe that in increasing relations with Pakistan, in increasing any kind of relations, the ’71 issue must be dealt with. We have raised that issue with them.”
Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar have become deeply entangled in drug trafficking, says report
Eight years after their initial influx from Myanmar, Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar have become deeply entangled in drug trafficking and a wide range of criminal activities led by Rohingya teenagers, reports daily-sun.com on August 25. According to reports, an average of 54,884 yaba tablets enter Bangladesh daily through Cox’s Bazar border. Alongside yaba, large quantities of crystal meth (ICE), heroin, cocaine, cannabis, opium, foreign liquor, and phensedyl are also being smuggled.
JeI plans to launch tougher movement for PR system
On September 1, Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) plans to launch a tougher movement, if necessary, to press for the next national election to be held under the proportional representation (PR) system and in accordance with the July Charter, having first ensured that the document is made legally binding in a meeting held at residence of JeI Chief Shafiqur Rahman in Dhaka, reports thedailystar.net. JeI outlined several strategic actions, including increased engagement with like-minded parties, as well as seminars and discussions to build public support for its demands. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair said, “We hadn’t met with our ameer for about a month due to his recovery from open-heart surgery. We presented various party-related and national issues for his guidance… We intend to participate only after its [PR system] implementation. The election must be timely and conducted under the PR system.”
On September 1, Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar stated that no one would participate in a staged election, reports thedailystar.net. Porwar said, “If a managed, staged election like before is forced on the country after so much blood and struggle, why should the people participate? No one will…From today’s roundtable, I demand that, if needed, PR provisions be added to the July Charter and put to a referendum so the people can decide — and we will accept their verdict…If you argue PR isn’t in the constitution, then what about the election being held in ’26? The last election was already held in ’24.
If you respect the constitution so much, elections should only be held in ’29. On what constitutional basis is an election happening in ’26? On what basis is Yunus saheb here?”
India – Internal Dynamics
Maoists abduct and kill villager holding a praja court in Chhattisgarh
A tribal youth, identified as Manish Nuruti, was killed by the cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Binagunda village under Chhotebethiya Police Station limits in Kanker District in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh on August 19, reports Prameyanews English. According to reports, Manish was abducted from his home on August 18 by a group of armed Maoists. Suspected of being a ‘police informer’, Nuruti was taken to a so-called praja court (people’s court of the Maoists), where he was sentenced to death in the presence of hundreds of villagers. He was then executed in an extremely barbaric manner. Sources confirm that the Maoists also detained two other tribal youths during the operation but later released them after assaulting them. A banner left at the scene, reportedly signed by the Partapur Area Committee of the Maoists, claimed responsibility for the killing.
Maoist ‘infiltrates’ both the district administration’s and Police’s media coordination groups in Bihar
Aurangabad Police were jolted by a revelation after they found that a wanted Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadre had successfully infiltrated both the district administration’s and the Police’s media coordination groups on an instant messaging platform, reports The Times of India on August 21. The breach came to light on August 20, when Gaya Police arrested Alok Sharma, accused in two Maoist-related cases registered at Banke Bazar and Deo Police Stations. Police sources said Sharma had long been on their radar for his involvement in several major Maoist incidents in Gaya and Aurangabad and had even been arrested earlier in similar cases. By slipping into the media coordination groups, Alok allegedly gained access to sensitive updates on Police movements and administrative decisions in real time. His arrest exposed the infiltration, sparking a wave of alarm within both the Police and the district administration.
‘Surrender’ not in dictionary of Nagas, says GPRN/NSCN (NU)
The Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN)/ National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) (Naga Unification) dismissed reports of two youths allegedly surrendering at Zunheboto Police Station in Zunheboto District of Nagaland, as “baseless and unfounded.,” Easter Mirror reports on August 22. The GPRN/NSCN (Naga Unification) under ‘president general’. (Retd.) MB Neokpao Konyak and ‘ato kilonser’ (prime minister) Alezo Venuh through a statement, asserted that the word “surrender” has never existed in the Naga revolutionary movement, emphasizing that no patriot has abandoned the cause. It clarified that the organization does not allot army numbers to civil workers and confirmed no record of the named individuals in its ranks. The outfit accused “Indian agencies” and certain individuals of attempting to derail the peace process under the Agreed Position. Warning against attempts to tarnish its image or disturb harmony, the GPRN/NSCN stated such acts would invite “serious consequences.”
India clamps down on journalism
Journalism is now “a dangerous activity” in India’s north-eastern state of Manipur, global watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in a statement released on Monday, Aug 25.
The state has been riven by ethnic conflict between the Meitei (Hindu) and Kuki (Christian) communities since May 2023.
“Physical attacks, intimidation and restrictions on movement have turned it into a minefield for the media,” the RSF said in its statement.
Disinformation has flourished in this environment, fuelling hostilities that have claimed more than 260 lives so far and displaced over 60,000 people. New Delhi clamped an internet shutdown in five of Manipur’s districts in June following outbreak of clashes between the two communities. It accused both law enforcement agencies and armed militias of obstructing journalists from carrying out their duties by seizing their equipment, barring their entry into specified areas and initiating “spurious legal proceedings” against them.
The RSF gave an account of the experience which several journalists went through in Manipur.
Pukhrambam Jotin Singh, a cameraman working for Impact News TV, was attacked by security forces on June 7 while covering a protest in Imphal, the state capital.
L. Kabichandra, a reporter for a TV channel, was wounded when a gunshot allegedly fired by a Kuki struck him. Since then his organization has to rely on a local correspondent to cover Kuki areas. Yambem Laba, a correspondent for The Statesman, was abducted from his home allegedly by members of a Meitei armed group on Feb 11 this year.
Afrida Hussain, who works for the India Today magazine, had to be rescued by the army from a hotel in Imphal after a mob surrounded it to protest a report on armed clashes between security forces and a Meitei armed group.
She resigned after the incident, left Manipur and said she would never work in the state again.
“Whether perpetrated by armed groups or by security forces, attacks, threats and reprisals against media professionals are unacceptable. The authorities must also prosecute all those who attack media professionals,” the RSF said.
Monthly Fatalities
The following casualties, related to ongoing insurgencies and acts of terrorism occurred during the period August 16, 2025 to September 10, 2025
| Civilian | Indian Security Personnel | Militants | Total | |
| Assam | 02 | 00 | 00 | 02 |
| Chhattisgarh | 04 | 02 | 03 | 09 |
| Maharashtra | 00 | 00 | 04 | 04 |
| Total | 06 | 02 | 07 | 15 |
INTERNATIONAL
Israeli rights group accuses general of war crimes in West Bank
A leading Israeli rights organisation said on Monday, Aug 25 that it had requested a military investigation into a senior commander over suspected war crimes in the occupied West Bank. The request comes days after Major General Avi Bluth, head of the Israeli military in the West Bank, appeared in a video in which he called for curfews and encirclements of Palestinian villages.
The Israeli military did not provide immediate comment.
In a letter to the military advocate-general, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) urged an inquiry into Bluth, citing comments and actions it said amounted to collective punishment of Palestinians. “We ask you to order the opening of an investigation against Major General Bluth on suspicion of war crimes,” ACRI wrote in the letter, which was dated Sunday.
Bluth had said that “every (Palestinian) village and every enemy… will pay a heavy price” for attacks against Israelis. His remarks, made in a video widely circulated in Israeli media, followed the arrest of a Palestinian man from the village of al-Mughayyir who was accused by the army of carrying out a “terrorist attack” nearby.
In the same video, Bluth added that the villages of Palestinian attackers could face curfews, encirclements and terrain “shaping actions” with the aim of deterrence.
On Sunday, Israeli bulldozers uprooted hundreds of trees in al-Mughayyir in the presence of the Israeli military. The army said it had “cleared” the area after a “series of terror attacks originating from that village”, adding the vegetation “obstructed the identification of enemy movement”.
In a press statement on Monday, ACRI accused the army of having cut down the trees to impose “collective punishment” on Palestinians in al-Mughayyir after a resident carried out a shooting attack.
“For months, lawlessness in the West Bank has made war crimes and crimes against humanity part of daily life. Alarmingly, the army has begun to boast about it,” the group said in its letter to the army’s prosecutor. “We ask you to order the army to immediately cease all acts of collective punishment, including the destruction of property.”
Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi has so far not confirmed his receipt of the letter.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and violence there has soared since the start of the war in Gaza almost two years ago.
Israel steps up bombing in Gaza, kills 16
Israeli forces killed 16 Palestinians across Gaza on Thursday and, Aug 28 wounded dozens in the south of the enclave, as residents reported intensified military bombardment in Gaza City.
The military is preparing to take Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban centre, despite international calls on Israel to reconsider this over fears that the operation would cause significant casualties and displace the roughly one million Palestinians sheltering there.
In Khan Yunis, another hospital came under Israeli fire but there were no casualties. Five journalists and 17 others were killed in a strike on the city’s Nasser Hospital on Monday.
In Gaza City, residents said families were fleeing their homes, with most heading towards the coast, as Israeli forces bombarded the eastern suburbs of Shejaia, Zeitoun, and Sabra. Thursday’s deaths took to 71 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire since Tuesday.
Israeli officials describe Gaza City as the last stronghold of Hamas. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was continuing to operate throughout Gaza targeting infrastructure.
A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross said 31 “weapon-wounded” patients, most with gunshot wounds, were admitted to its field hospital in the southern Gaza town of Rafah. Four of them were declared dead on arrival.
“Patients said they were injured while trying to reach food distribution sites,” the spokesperson said, adding that since the food distribution sites began operations on May 27, the hospital had treated over 5,000 “weapon-wounded patients”.
Dozens of Palestinians were admitted to Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Yunis with gunshot wounds.
UN Workers press HR chief to call crisis a genocide
Hundreds of UN staff at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Volker Turk have asked him to explicitly describe the Gaza conflict as an unfolding genocide, according to a letter. The letter, sent on Aug 29 said the staff consider that the legal criteria for genocide have been met, citing the scale, scope and nature of violations documented there. “The OHCHR has a strong legal and moral responsibility to denounce acts of genocide,” said the letter, signed by the Staff Committee on behalf of over 500 employees, which called on Turk to take a “clear and public position”.
“Failing to denounce an unfolding genocide undermines the credibility of the UN and the human rights system itself,” it added. It cited the international body’s perceived moral failure for not doing more to stop the 1994 Rwanda genocide that killed more than one million people.
There was no immediate response from the Israeli foreign ministry.
The Geneva-based human rights agency was created in 1993 and tasked with promoting and protecting rights for all.
UK blocks Israelis from its biggest defence show
Britain has barred Israeli officials from its biggest defence trade show over its escalation of bombardment in Gaza, its latest effort to pressure a historically close ally over the conflict.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government said in July it would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to relieve suffering in the enclave and met other conditions, enraging the Israeli government.
Israel’s ministry of defence said that as a result of the trade fair ban it would not run its national pavilion as it has done previously at London’s Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) event. Israeli defence companies, such as Elbit Systems, Rafael, IAI and Uvision, will still be able to attend.
Britain’s move had echoes of a dispute at the Paris Air Show three months ago, when France blocked off with black partitions the stands of Israeli defence companies after they refused to remove attack weapons from display, sparking a furious response from Israel.
A British government spokesperson said on Friday, August 29 that the Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza was wrong. “As a result, we can confirm that no Israeli government delegation will be invited to attend DSEI UK 2025. There must be a diplomatic solution to end this war now, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” the spokesperson added.
Israel said Britain’s decision was a “regrettable act of discrimination” and “introduces political considerations wholly inappropriate for a professional defence industry exhibition”.
The four-day show, due to open on September 9, features national delegations and private companies, who showcase military kit and weapons at London’s Excel centre. The event takes place every other year.
DSEI is organised by a private company, Clarion Defence and Security, but with backing from the British government and the military.
| Current Threat Levels : | ||
| City/Region | Threat Level | |
| Islamabad | Level 2 | ** |
| Karachi | Level 2 | ** |
| Lahore | Level 2 | ** |
| Punjab | Level 2 | ** |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | Level 3 | *** |
| Peshawar | Level 2 | ** |
| Quetta | Level 2 | ** |
| Upper Balochistan | Level 3 | *** |
| Lower Balochistan | Level 2 | ** |
| Upper/ Rural Singh | Level 2 | ** |
| Gilgit and Northern areas | Level 3 | *** |
| Tribal Areas, Close to Afghan border | Level 3 | *** |
| Index to Threat Level Perceptions | |
Threat Level 1 No threat to foreigners although there may be isolated incidents involving petty crime. No security precautions are required. | * |
Threat Level 2 No specific threat to foreigners, however because of the overall general law & order situation, some security precautions are advised, especially if traveling. | ** |
Threat Level 3 Indicates that law and order situation is cause for concern and travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Foreigners should rehearse plans for evacuation. | *** |
Threat Level 4 Indicates complete breakdown of civil administration and law and order leading to possible anarchy. All foreigners to remain indoors and confined to their own city. Families and staff not required to be evacuated retaining only a skeleton staff. | **** |
Threat Level 5 Indicates complete breakdown of law and order, enemy action/hostilities, invasion/ occupation by enemy. | ***** |
