• Renowned climber Messner warns ‘white mountains’ may not survive another decade; calls for urgent action
• Celebrates 82nd birthday in Islamabad • Reflects on his lifelong bond with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Renowned Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner warned that rapid glacial melting threatens the survival of Pakistan’s peaks, declaring the high mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan “more valuable than oil reservoirs in Arab countries”.

Expressing deep concern for the changing environment, the alpinist said some “white mountains” in the region may only survive another 10 to 15 years without better environmental management, pledging that he and his team remain determined to help save the remaining ice.

The 82-year-old issued the warning while celebrating his birthday during a 12-day visit to the mountain areas of GB with his wife, Diane.

The trip, which ran from Sept 6 to Sept 16, culminated in a birthday celebration organised by Nanga Parbat Adventure Pakistan at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad.

Italian Ambassador to Pak­istan Ugo Ciarlatani, German Ambassador Ina Lepel and prominent Pakistani mountaineers, including Nazir Sabir and Liver Khan, attended the ceremony to honour Messner’s historic achievements.

Beyond his climbing legacy, Mr Messner continues to give back to the region. Mr Khan, a long-time friend, highlighted Messner’s ongoing connection to the local communities that aided him during his perilous descent of Nanga Parbat over 50 years ago.

Over the decades, Mr Messner has helped establish several schools in the Diamer valleys, including one named in memory of his younger brother, Mr Gunther. “I look forward to … the schools, places where the future is written, where hope grows stronger than loss,” Mr Messner noted.

The return to Pakistan brought profound sentimental reflections for the man widely regarded as one of history’s greatest high-altitude climbers.

Days before his birthday, Mr Messner stopped at a rock situated along the Karakoram Highway near Thalichy, which offers a clear view of Nanga Parbat. He climbed the rock again, just as he did in 1970 when he and Mr Gunther first saw the mountain rising in the distance.

For Mr Messner, the region holds both triumph and deep personal tragedy. He and Mr Gunther reached the summit of Nanga Parbat in 1970 via the Rupal Face, but disaster struck during their descent on the Diamir side.

Mr Gunther was swept away by an avalanche and died. Mr Messner survived but lost seven toes to severe frostbite. His cla­ims about his brother’s death were vindicated in 2005 when Mr Gunther’s remains were fin­ally discovered on the Diamir Face.

Mr Messner was accused by his teammates, including Herrl­igko­ffer, of abandoning his bro­ther solely to gain the bragging rights of traversing Nanga Parbat.

In 1978, Mr Messner returned to summit Nanga Parbat completely alone. Climbing without supplementary oxygen or support from teammates, he opened a new route on the right side of the Diamir Face, completing the first solo ascent of an 8,000-metre mountain.

“To return to Pakistan is to return to the roots of my own becoming,” Mr Messner wrote in a social media post before his arrival. “Here, at Nanga Parbat, I crossed the mountain and lost my brother Gunther, a wound that has never closed but became part of who I am.”

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2026

The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has filed the application with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), which will hear the request on Sept 29.

The proposed increase will also apply to consumers of K-Electric (KE), according to the request.

The CPPA said 14.464 billion units of electricity were supplied to distribution companies (Discos) in August at an average cost of Rs8.82 per unit.

Generation mix

Hydropower accounted for 37.84 per cent of total electricity generation during the month, while 10.88pc was generated from local coal and 15.59pc from imported coal. Electricity generated from furnace oil accounted for 2.15pc, while local gas contributed 7.04pc and imported LNG 8.48pc.

The CPPA said the cost of electricity generated from furnace oil stood at Rs45.25 per unit, while power generated from imported LNG cost Rs45.92 per unit.

Last month, Nepra approved an financial burden of about Rs9.8bn on electricity consumers by allowing a fuel cost adjustment of 75.03 paise per unit in August electricity bills.

Nepra said it had decided that the positive FCA for June 2026, amounting to Rs0.7503 per kilowatt-hour, would be applicable to all consumer categories of KE and ex-Wapda distribution companies, except lifeline consumers, electric vehicle charging stations and pre-paid electricity consumers of all categories who had opted for the pre-paid tariff.

The regulator had said the higher FCA would also apply to consumers under the incremental consumption package. Distribution companies and KE were directed to reflect the fuel cost adjustment for June this year in electricity bills issued for August.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2026

The information ministry was responding to Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid’s remarks in an interview with Al Arabiya English a day earlier, in which he said Afghanistan wanted dialogue with Pakistan and called for stronger mechanisms for intelligence-sharing and cooperation. He also welcomed a larger Saudi role in mediating between Kabul and Islamabad, saying Saudi Arabia was a friend of both countries and could play a “positive role” in resolving their differences.

Pakistan also rejected Kabul’s warning of “retaliatory action” if Islamabad carried out military operations inside Afghanistan, saying the Taliban regime should dismantle terrorist networks operating from its territory instead of “deflecting responsibility”.

During the interview, Mr Mujahid warned Pakistan against conducting military operations inside Afghanistan and said Kabul would defend its sovereignty against any such action.

Responding to Kabul spox seeking talks, Islamabad says Afghan govt should dismantle terrorists operating from its territory

He also denied Islamabad’s assertion that Afghan territory was being used by militant groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

“If Pakistan invokes Article 51 to violate the sanctity of Afghan territory, Afghanistan has the right to defend its country, and we will do so,” he said, warning of a “crushing response” to any violation of Afghan sovereignty.

Pakistan reiterated that it had the “will and capability” to eliminate terrorist threats and would take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to protect its citizens, territory and sovereignty.

Pakistan also linked the Afghan Taliban’s warning to the deadly terrorist attack on civilians and police officials offering Friday prayers in Kohat.

“We strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on civilians and police officials offering Friday prayers in Kohat,” the ministry of information stated, describing the attackers as “the vilest of Khwarij with roots in Afghanistan”.

It said Pakistan had repeatedly raised concerns over the use of Afghan territory by Fitna al-Khawarij and other terrorist groups to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan. The state uses the term Fitna al-Khawarij for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“The presence of terrorist sanctuaries, alongside their recruitment and support infrastructure in Afghanistan, poses a direct threat to Pakistan’s security,” it said, adding that the concerns had repeatedly been conveyed to the Afghan Taliban regime and its interlocutors.

The ministry said the Taliban must dismantle the networks instead of “deflecting responsibility”.

Pakistan also rejected Mujahid’s assertion that Kabul did not allow the TTP to operate from Afghan territory or support armed groups targeting other countries.

Pakistan said the Afghan Taliban had obligations under the Doha Agreement to prevent Afghan territory from being used to threaten other countries.

It said it had noted the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ condemnation of the Kohat attack and expression of sympathy for the victims’ families, but regretted that the statement did not mention terrorism.

“Condemnation must be matched by concrete action,” the ministry said, calling on the Taliban to take “credible, verifiable and sustained measures” to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries and disrupt recruitment and training networks.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2026

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan tried to disrupt people’s movement by establishing a checkpost for abduction for ransom, extortion and snatching of vehicles along the N-25 highway, also knows as the Pakistan Expressway, on the night between Sept 18 and Sept 19.

“Security forces responded immediately and after intense fire exchange, five terrorists belonging to India-sponsored proxy of Fitna-al-Hindustan were sent to hell,” the statement said.

The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna-al-Hindustan to highlight India’s alleged role in terrorism and destabilisation across Pakistan.

According to the ISPR, 23 abductees were recovered from the terrorists’ hideout near Kalat. Six trucks, three buses and two cars were also recovered, as well as large quantities of weapons, ammunition and explosives, the statement said.

“Successful operations by the security forces resulted in thwarting the nefarious designs of India-sponsored proxy of Fitna-al-Hindustan,” it added.

The ISPR said sanitisation operations were ongoing in the surrounding areas to eliminate any remaining terrorists and ensure the safety and security of the local population and national highways.

“The relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’, as approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue with full resolve. Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain committed to eliminating the menace of foreign-sponsored and foreign-supported terrorism from the country,” the statement concluded.

Balochistan has been facing security challenges and terrorism, which has prompted security forces to intensify counter-terrorism operations.

The number of terrorist attacks in the province increased by seven per cent from 83 in July to 89 in August, according to a monthly assessment by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

The ISPR and the state media has reported several actions in the province over recent weeks.

On the night of Aug 31-Sept 1, terrorists of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) launched a coordinated attack on the Customs House, located at Ziarat Cross on the N-50 National Highway, in the Pishin district.

In retaliatory action, security forces killed 10 terrorists while two officers were among six martyred in the fire exchange, the military’s media affairs wing said.

Also on August 31, 11 terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Hindustan, who had blocked the N-40 Quetta-Taftan highway by establishing an illegal checkpoint for extortion in Chagai’s Nokcha area, were killed following an intense exchange of fire.

On September 2, security forces killed 12 terrorists in the Kalat district during an intelligence-based operation (IBO). Days later, the troops killed 11 terrorists and recovered 2.9 tonnes of explosives during separate IBOs in Kharan and Washuk districts.

Another 36 terrorists were eliminated during multiple “high-tempo” operations conducted in Mastung, Quetta, Kalat and Sibi districts, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on September 4. These also included thwarting an attack on a police station in Sibi’s Bhag area.

On Thursday, seven terrorists were killed by security forces in an IBO in the Badrang area of Balochistan’s Awaran district, while seven terrorists were killed during two IBOs in the province’s Panjgur and Kachhi districts on Friday, the state media reported.

The killing of 11 more terrorists by security forces in Panjgur and Chagai districts under Operation Raddul Fitna 3 was reported on Saturday.