Pupils arrive at their school in Lahore after it reopened yesterday.
Pupils arrive at their school in Lahore after it reopened yesterday.

Pakistan army presses ahead in Waziristan



PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN // Pakistani forces killed 19 militants in an intense clash in South Waziristan yesterday while insurgents aiming to divert the army's attention launched a raid in another northwestern region, officials said.

The army launched the attack on the militant hub in South Waziristan 10 days ago after the al Qa'eda-linked fighters spread fear with a series of bombings and raids, including a bloody siege at the army's headquarters. Fearing more violence, authorities last week ordered schools and colleges across the country closed, but many of them reopened yesterday. Security fears have also unnerved stock market investors and the main KSE index slid seven per cent last week. The market ended 2.44 per cent higher at 9,374.50 yesterday, but dealers said turnover was low as investors were nervous.

The South Waziristan operation is seen as a test of Pakistan's determination to take on the Islamists responsible for attacks against the state. The United States and other powers embroiled in neighbouring Afghanistan's growing conflict want Pakistan to eliminate sanctuaries for militants in its lawless north-west. About 28,000 soldiers were advancing on about 10,000 fighters in their main stronghold area from three directions.

About 200,000 people have abandoned their homes in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area, an army spokesman said yesterday. "As of today, 26,165 families have been registered," Col Waseem Shahid, a spokesman for the army's special support group, said. He said the army used a working average of eight members to each family. "The cricket stadium in Dera Ismail Khan has been converted into a hub of registration [and internally displaced people] are being facilitated in registration."

The Red Cross warned last week that relief workers were being kept out of South Waziristan and that the civilian toll was believed to be mounting. The United Nations said that half the people were displaced in the past two weeks. Cash assistance of 5,000 rupees (Dh220) will be given to each displaced family every month as non-food support, officials have said. Pakistan has claimed a string of successes during the operation to crush the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in South Waziristan, pressing its most ambitious battle yet in a tribal area infested with fighters linked to al Qa'eda. The latest fighting took place when Taliban militants tried to block soldiers advancing through a village from the south-east towards a major militant base at Sararogha.

"They put up stiff resistance and used all sorts of weapons including rocket-propelled grenades and heavy and light machine guns," an intelligence agency official said. A military spokesman said forces had managed to secure Gharlai village and nearby ridges after the clash in which militants and six soldiers were killed. South Waziristan's rocky mountains and patchy forest have been a magnet for militants from around the world in recent years. Uzbeks and Arab al Qa'eda supporters are among the foreigners fighting alongside the Taliban.

A groups of militants launched what police said was a diversionary raid yesterday on a security post near the town of Hangu, about 100km north-east of South Waziristan. Fifteen militants and one soldier were killed, police said. "They're trying to help their men," said Fazal Naeem, a police spokesman in Hangu. "Since an operation has been launched against them in Waziristan, they've begun these attacks here to divert attention," he said.

Later, security forces destroyed six hideouts and arrested 15 militants during a search, he said. * Reuters, with additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

WORLD RECORD FEES FOR GOALKEEPERS

1) Kepa Arrizabalaga, Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea (£72m)

2) Alisson, Roma to Liverpool (£67m)

3) Ederson, Benfica to Manchester City (£35m)

4) Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus (£33m)

5) Angelo Peruzzi, Inter Milan to Lazio (£15.7m

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Business Insights
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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage

Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid 

Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani

Rating: 4/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Company%20Profile
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Results

1. New Zealand Daniel Meech – Fine (name of horse), Richard Gardner – Calisto, Bruce Goodin - Backatorps Danny V, Samantha McIntosh – Check In. Team total First round: 200.22; Second round: 201.75 – Penalties 12 (jump-off 40.16 seconds) Prize €64,000

2. Ireland Cameron Hanley – Aiyetoro, David Simpson – Keoki, Paul Kennedy – Cartown Danger Mouse, Shane Breen – Laith. Team total 200.25/202.84 – P 12 (jump-off 51.79 – P17) Prize €40,000

3. Italy Luca Maria Moneta – Connery, Luca Coata – Crandessa, Simone Coata – Dardonge, Natale Chiaudani – Almero. Team total 130.82/198.-4 – P20. Prize €32,000

SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
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City's slump

L - Juventus, 2-0
D - C Palace, 2-2
W - N Forest, 3-0
L - Liverpool, 2-0
D - Feyenoord, 3-3
L - Tottenham, 4-0
L - Brighton, 2-1
L - Sporting, 4-1
L - Bournemouth, 2-1
L - Tottenham, 2-1

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Company%20Profile
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RESULTS

Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO

Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke

Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke

Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO

Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision

Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision

Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO

Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)

Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)

Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision

Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke

Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO

Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision

Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision

The Cairo Statement

 1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations

2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred

3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC  

4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.

5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.

6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security

Empty Words

By Mario Levrero  

(Coffee House Press)
 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4