Security US strikes on Iran-backed militias in Syria send 'unambiguous message' 2021-02-26 US President Joe Biden authorised the strikes near the Iraq-Syria border following attacks against US and coalition personnel in Iraq, as the US vows to hold Iran responsible for its Iraqi militias. Security 2021-02-25 Evidence suggests Haqqani Network, ISIS co-ordinating terror attacks Officials say the Haqqani Network takes care of planning and providing resources, while ISIS launches the attacks and takes responsibility, providing a smokescreen from accusations. Human Rights 2021-02-24 China increasing prosecution, lengthening sentences of Uighur Muslims Those locked up in Xinjiang's prisons are 'ordinary people convicted for going about their lives and practicing their religion', according to Human Rights Watch. Human Rights 2021-02-22 China deems Xinjiang rape, abuses as 'shining examples' of progress China's foreign minister declared at the UN that his country's systematic abuses of Muslims, which include gang rape, show Beijing's commitment to human rights progress. Security 2021-02-19 'Successful' AMAN-21 drills deemed to bring greater stability in region Pakistan's maritime diplomacy is a key example of the country's ability to bring 45 diverse countries and navies on a common platform of peace in the Indian Ocean region. Security 2021-02-18 Growing intra-Taliban feud threatens to unravel peace process The Taliban's political wing has decided to do something about its military colleagues' intransigence on a number of issues, and some fear an even greater escalation of violence across the country. Do you blame China for COVID-19? Yes No Partially I don't know View Results SPOTLIGHT Growing intra-Taliban feud threatens to unravel peace process The Taliban's political wing has decided to do something about its military colleagues' intransigence on a number of issues, and some fear an even greater escalation of violence across the country. Health 2021-02-17 International probe accuses China of withholding info on COVID-19 origins Beijing's lack of transparency and selective data sharing have frustrated the team of international specialists tasked with probing the origin of the pandemic. No conclusive findings were made. Security 2021-02-16 AMAN-21 drills exhibit collective international will to pursue peace, security 'The exercise is a reflection that nations can play a constructive role in building new ties, establishing innovative relationships while strengthening existing ones,' said a top commander. Security 2021-02-15 Indebted ISIS fighters in Syria forced into banditry In addition to organised robbery, surviving ISIS members have even stooped to fraud via social media by misrepresenting their accounts as belonging to widows and needy people. Connect with Us Subscribe to the Pakistan Forward newsletter Subscribe We send updates twice a week with the latest news and features Human Rights 2021-02-11 Iran's Sunni community blasts Islamic Republic's 'Muslim unity' claims Sunnis in Iran are excluded from holding senior positions in government and the regime bars them from repairing dilapidated mosques or building new ones. Technology 2021-02-10 Beijing censors shutdown Clubhouse after blissful week of 'real internet' Threatened by truthful conversations on the treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang and the thorny issue of Taiwan, the Chinese regime has stamped out freedom of thought once again. Security 2021-02-09 AMAN-21 puts Pakistan at center of major international push for security Forty-five countries are participating in the biennial drills that aim to improve peace and stability in the region and beyond. Security 2021-02-08 Arrest of Zainabiyoun recruiter highlights Iran's posture toward Pakistan The recent arrest of a militant working on behalf of Iran's Revolutionary Guards puts the spotlight once again on Tehran's policies that undermine the security of Pakistan and the region. Human Rights 2021-02-05 Muslim women recount China's campaign of systematic rape in Xinjiang One victim described witnessing a gang rape of a young woman whom camp staff brought before dozens of other detainees. Policemen took turns raping her in front of everyone. Crime & Justice 2021-02-04 How Iran lured a dissident from France to execution Iranian dissident Rouhollah Zam, lured to Iraq in October 2019, was abducted and taken to Iran, where he was hanged a year later. Analysis 2021-02-03 Iran's missile programme: a long history of failure and mishap The IRGC constantly downplays its failures and boasts about occasional successes, while the skyrocketing cost of its missile programme diverts key funds away from impoverished Iranians. Tolerance 2021-02-02 After hellish years under ISIS 'caliphate', Ukraine woman hopes for new start 'If you tried to escape, they could shoot you in the back,' says woman who followed her husband to Syria and described it as a mistake. Diplomacy 2021-02-01 'Out of compliance': Iran faces tough choices on nuclear deal If Iran is serious about negotiations and wants a new commitment, it must refrain from further provocations and return to compliance. Health 2021-01-29 China attempts to convince world that it is 'victim' of COVID-19 Beijing's spin took on more urgency in recent weeks as World Health Organisation (WHO) experts arrived in Wuhan to probe the origins of the coronavirus. Security 2021-01-28 New Iran-backed militia with Zainabiyoun link surfaces in eastern Syria Sayyida Zainab Brigade has established a presence around the Deir Ezzor city of al-Mayadeen, where it is seeking to expand Iran's influence. Health 2021-01-27 Wuhan clubbers flaunt 'freedom' as world continues to suffer The statements of interviewed locals echo China state media's massive disinformation campaign that has been hammering home the success of Beijing, and failure of Western governments. Security 2021-01-26 Balochistan residents reiterate calls to stop Gwadar port fencing Plans to fence off a large area around Gwadar have outraged residents who say the government is prioritising Chinese interests at the expense of locals' livelihoods. Crime & Justice 2021-01-25 Documentary spotlights Putin's billion-dollar Black Sea 'bribery' palace Putin's property is 39 times the size of Monaco and features a casino inside a 17,691-square-metre mansion, along with an ice rink and vineyards. Health 2021-01-22 China's 'triumph' over COVID-19 marred by new outbreaks, lockdowns One year after the Wuhan lockdown, Beijing is eager to promote its narrative of how it contained the pandemic, but history tells another story. Analysis 2021-01-21 Peaceful transfer of power underscores resilience of US democracy The United States continued its over 200-year-old tradition of handing over presidential power peacefully, as the US military remains steadfast in its commitments to allies around the world. Energy 2021-01-18 China's pivot to clean energy is more talk than action, say analysts Beijing's pitch to be the global leader for climate change is undermined by its heavy investment in coal, and is the latest example of the regime's tactics in the global information war. Health 2021-01-15 International probe reaches Wuhan, but what evidence will it find? Beijing's history of secrecy, disinformation and delays raises concerns that the team of World Health Organisation specialists will find a cold trail more than a year after COVID-19 first emerged. Politics 2021-01-13 IRGC missile base unveiling adds to fears of conflict in the Gulf The IRGC has a long history of boasting about its weaponry, and a track record of deficient missile and radar systems. Human Rights 2021-01-12 China spins population drop in Xinjiang to fit counter-extremism narrative Muslim women in Xinjiang are 'no longer baby-making machines' thanks to the eradication of extremism, Chinese diplomats say. Forced sterilisation is at play, reply independent researchers. Health 2021-01-08 China blocks entry of international probe investigating origins of COVID-19 Beijing barred WHO specialists from entering China at the last minute, highlighting the regime's continuing cover-up and attempts to whitewash the origin of the novel coronavirus.
