According to an investigative report by Parrhesia News, Pakistan’s security agencies are using state-backed armed groups in Balochistan to pursue security objectives and counter Baloch armed opposition, with some former members of Afghanistan’s security forces also recruited into these groups.

The report, published on August 6, claims that groups known as “Lashkars” operate in Balochistan with the support of Pakistan’s security agencies and play a role in security and counterinsurgency operations alongside the country’s army, border forces and intelligence agencies.

According to the investigation, these groups serve as proxies, allowing Pakistan to carry out some security and counterinsurgency operations through armed groups that are not formally part of the state structure.

Parrhesia News claims that some former members of Afghanistan’s security forces, who left the country after the fall of the republic in 2021, have also joined these groups. The report says their military training, combat experience and familiarity with border operations make them valuable to these networks.

The report says the use of former Afghan personnel allows Pakistan-backed armed groups to deploy experienced fighters in their operations without officially increasing the size of Pakistan’s security forces.

The outlet also claims that the former Afghan personnel are primarily motivated by financial needs and finding a way to make a living, and that they have no interest in participating in a potential conflict against Afghanistan.

Afghanistan have secured direct qualification for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup after beating Ireland by 92 runs in the second ODI of their five-match series in Bready.

The victory confirmed Afghanistan’s place among the teams that will qualify directly for the 2027 tournament, removing the pressure from the remaining matches of the Ireland series.

Afghanistan join South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka among the teams that have secured their places at the 2027 World Cup.

South Africa and Zimbabwe qualify automatically as co-hosts, while the remaining teams earned their places through the ICC ODI ranking qualification process.

The first ODI between Afghanistan and Ireland was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain. Afghanistan then produced a convincing performance in the second match, winning by 92 runs and securing the result they needed to confirm their World Cup place.

The qualification is another major milestone for Afghanistan cricket, which has established itself as a regular presence at global ICC tournaments over the past decade.

The result also ended the West Indies’ hopes of securing one of the direct qualification places. Ireland, meanwhile, will have to take the longer route through the 10-team World Cup Qualifier.

Afghanistan and Ireland still have three ODIs remaining in the current series, with the third match scheduled for August 10, followed by the fourth on August 12 and the fifth on August 15.

With their World Cup place secured, Afghanistan can now approach the remaining matches without the pressure of qualification hanging over the team.

The 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Afghanistan face Ireland for the third of five matches tomorrow, Monday 10. 

Fans across Afghanistan can watch the match live and exclusively on Ariana Television.

For updates, schedules and news on the tour, fans can follow Ariana Television, and Ariana News’ social media pages.

A defence pact signed between Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is ‌technically the same as NATO’s Article 5 mutual defence agreement, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday, adding the accord was not targeting Iran.

Fidan also said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan wanted to see the alliance expand, and that Egypt was a potential candidate to ​join, among others.

The regional powers signed the “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement” on Friday, wedding Sunni Muslim U.S. allies alarmed ​at a regional conflagration that has brought Iranian missile fire onto Gulf oil exporters.

In a ⁠joint statement, they said the accord intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates ​that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all.

Speaking to the ​state-run Anadolu news agency, Fidan said the new alliance was not directed against Iran or any other country, but rather served as a general pledge to support the three allies’ security.

He added that the allies would decide through consultations what degree, form, and format of ​support they would ask for in the event of an attack, but that no country would be considered a ​threat as long as a member state is not attacked.

Turkey, which has NATO’s second-largest army, has said the pact was open ‌to ⁠expansion to other regional countries and did not seek to replace any existing alliances.

“NATO is a giant military alliance where there are 32 countries. We have started here as three countries and we have to take very humble but concrete steps,” he said, adding efforts to finalise the pact had been underway for two years and eight months.

He ​added that a committee ​of ministers similar to that ⁠within NATO would be formed as part of the alliance, as well as a general secretariat based in Saudi Arabia, but that operational details would be set at ​the first committee meeting.

“Our president’s vision is that we don’t remain limited to three ​countries, that ⁠we grow and bring together all (regional) countries under this roof,” he said, adding Egypt could potentially join the pact once certain technical matters are resolved.

In recent months, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt formed a group to address regional issues, ⁠namely the ​war on Iran. Turkey has said the group – dubbed the R4 – ​aims to solidify its partnership through concrete mechanisms.

Fidan also said Turkey should be involved in an international coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea ​from Houthi attacks because shipping safety concerned Ankara’s interests.