Gunmen shoot dead seven Shiite Muslims in PakistanApril 14, 2012 - 14:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Gunmen on Saturday, April 14 shot dead seven Shiite Muslims in two separate incidents of sectarian violence in Pakistan's troubled southwestern city of Quetta, police said. According to AFP, the drive-by shootings took place in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province bordering with Iran and Afghanistan. "Two gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire on a taxi cab killing five Shiite Muslims and wounding another person," local police official Ameer Muhammad Dasti said. He said in the second incident, two gunmen standing on a roadside shot dead two Shiites, who passed by them on a motorbike. A senior local police official Malik Arshad also confirmed the incidents and casualties and said," the killings were part of sectarian violence in the city." There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but oil and gas rich Baluchistan is rife with Islamist militancy and sectarian violence between majority Sunnis and minority Shiite Muslims, and a regional separatist insurgency. Hundreds of civilians have been killed since Baluch rebels rose up in 2004 against the federal Pakistani government, demanding political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the oil, gas and mineral resources in the region. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |