ISLAMABAD — Pakistan confirmed Thursday that its security forces have rescued five abducted Iranian border guards, saying efforts to recover other captives are ongoing. An anti-Iran Sunni militant organization known as Jaish al-Adl kidnapped a group of 12 security guards a month ago in the southeastern Iranian border city of Mirjaveh and took the captives to the Pakistani side of… Read more »
DHAKA — Bangladesh’s cabinet on Monday approved a draft law prescribing the death penalty for drug offenses, despite widespread criticism over a narcotics crackdown in which police have shot dead more than 200 people since May. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched a campaign to toughen punishments for drug crimes ahead of a general election due by December. But the… Read more »
ISLAMABAD — Officials in Afghanistan confirmed Monday a Taliban prisoner has killed at least eight policemen, including three senior officers, after covertly seizing an assault rifle from a guard at the detention facility in southern Zabul province. The incident happened while security guards were offering evening prayers late Sunday at the Shar-e-Safa district jail, a police officer told VOA. Ghulam… Read more »
ISLAMABAD — The United Nations announced Tuesday its initial findings have indicated recent airstrikes by pro-government forces in Afghanistan killed at least 21 civilians, almost all of them women and children. The latest Afghan civilian casualties occurred in Kapisa and Maidan Wardak provinces on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, where Afghan forces, together with coalition partners, were conducting counter-Taliban operations, local… Read more »