Pakistan Foils Terror Plot Against Masroor Airbase, Arrests Nine Militants

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a dramatic trading halt after the KSE-100 index plummeted over 8,000 points, primarily due to newly imposed tariffs by the United States. Trading was suspended for one hour as the index plunged, ultimately closing down by 3.27 percent at 114,909.48 points on April 7, 2025. Analysis from Uzma Khan, a financial expert at Arif Habib Securities, indicated that fears of a global recession contributed significantly to the sharp decline. Initially, the KSE-100 index dropped by 6,287.22 points, or 5.29 percent, by 11:58 am, prompting the temporary trading suspension. When trading resumed, the index continued to spiral further down, totaling a record decline reaching 8,687.69 points, or 7.31 percent. The market remains on edge as analysts caution about potential retaliatory economic measures from other countries in response to the US tariffs. The significant volatility has raised concerns among investors, leading to a cautious outlook for future trading sessions.

At least 11 people were killed in northern Pakistan when the military conducted drone strikes targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts. The strikes occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province late Friday, according to provincial government officials. Among the deceased were two women and three children, who have been described by local residents as "innocent civilians." Provincial spokesperson Muhammad Ali Saif stated that the operation aimed to eliminate terrorist threats based on "confirmed intelligence." The TTP has escalated attacks recently, launching a "spring campaign" against security forces that has resulted in nearly 100 attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since mid-March, officials noted. Following the drone strikes, local protests emerged, with residents expressing grief and anger over the civilian casualties. An investigation is currently underway to ascertain the presence of TTP members at the strike sites. With over 190 fatalities reported among security personnel since January 1, violence has surged in the region, particularly since the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan in August 2021.

Over 50 prominent Afghan women’s rights activists residing in Pakistan are at risk of deportation, facing potential imprisonment or death if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. The Pakistan government has pledged to deport millions of Afghan nationals as relations deteriorate and militant attacks rise, labeling them as "terrorists" and "traitors" (The Guardian, 2025). Since September 2023, Pakistani authorities have forcibly returned at least 844,499 Afghans, according to Amnesty International, raising serious concerns about their safety. Among those currently in hiding are activists like Humaira Alim, who fled Afghanistan after receiving death threats for her advocacy work. “If they send me back to Afghanistan, it only means death,” Alim stated, fearing Taliban retaliation. This mass deportation has been condemned by human rights groups, including Avaaz, which described the action as a “death sentence” for these individuals. The Pakistani government has set a deadline of March 31 for undocumented Afghans to leave the country or face arrest, prompting activists to seek asylum in third countries for their safety.